China complains in Prague about EU tariffs on electric cars and asks for help – POLITICO

Lin Ji, China’s vice commerce minister, told Czech officials on Sunday that “China does not agree and does not accept” the decision, according to statement released by the Ministry of Commerce of China.

He also said that Beijing hopes that the Prague government will “play an active role” in building “political will and sincerity of negotiations during China-Europe consultations on electric vehicles.”

Brussels and Beijing are operating in parallel with the introduction of tariffs conducting negotiations alternative, WTO-compatible solutions to the problem of unfair subsidization without the imposition of tariffs.

“China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Czech side” in various fields, Beijing added.

Czech officials present at the meeting said, according to China’s statement, that Prague “stands for free trade and opposes protectionism.” Prague also “attaches great importance to the development of economic and trade cooperation with China,” the statement said.

Czech officials did not comment on the meeting.