EU to investigate Chinese-made electric cars; distorting the market is unacceptable

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

EU 中国製電気自動車を調査へ 市場をゆがめるもので容認できず

2023年9月14日 5時25分

EU＝ヨーロッパ連合のフォンデアライエン委員長は、中国製のEV＝電気自動車について、国からの補助金で価格を抑え、市場での競争をゆがめているという認識を示し、調査を行う考えを明らかにしました。

ヨーロッパでは自動車の業界団体が先月、声明を発表し、中国製のEVが急速に市場に入ってきているとしたうえで「中国の自動車産業は、公的な資金と政府の意向に支えられ、ヨーロッパにとって挑戦となっている」と危機感を示して競争力を高めるための対応をEUに求めました。

こうした中、EUのフォンデアライエン委員長は13日、ヨーロッパ議会で演説し、中国製のEVについて「国からの巨額の補助金で価格が人為的に低く抑えられている。われわれの市場をゆがめるもので容認することはできない」と述べ、調査を行う考えを明らかにしました。

EUのルールでは、調査の結果、外国からの補助金を受けた輸入品によってEUの産業が不公正な競争にさらされ損害を受けたと認定されれば、制裁として関税を上乗せするなどの措置をとることができます。

フォンデアライエン委員長は10年前にEUが制裁関税を暫定的に課した中国製の太陽光パネルに言及したことから、こうした措置を視野に入れているとみられます。

一方、フォンデアライエン委員長は年内に中国と首脳会談を行うとして、中国側との対話を重視する姿勢も強調しました。

Translation

EU (European Union) Commissioner von der Leyen announced her intention to investigate Chinese-made EVs (electric vehicles), recognizing that their prices were suppressed by state subsidies and distorting competition in the market.

In Europe, an automobile industry group issued a statement last month saying that Chinese-made EVs were rapidly entering the market, and that ``China's automobile industry is supported by public funds and government intentions, this poses a challenge for Europe" and expressed a sense of crisis and calling on the EU to take action to increase its competitiveness.

Under these circumstances, EU Commissioner von der Leyen gave a speech at the European Parliament on the 13th, about Chinese-made EVs, said that ``Prices are kept artificially low due to huge subsidies from the state. It distorts our market and cannot be tolerated", and announced her intention to conduct an investigation.

Under EU rules, if an investigation found that EU industries had been exposed to unfair competition and suffered damage due to imports that had received subsidies from foreign countries, measures such as adding customs duties could be taken as sanctions.

Commissioner von der Leyen from what had been mentioned seemed to be considering those measures taken on solar panels made in China ten years ago which the EU provisionally imposed punitive tariffs.

On the other hand, Chairman von der Leyen stated that she would hold a summit meeting with China within the year, and emphasized that she would attach importance on dialogue with the Chinese side.

So, in Europe, an automobile industry group is saying that Chinese-made EVs produced with supports from public funds are rapidly entering the market. Measures such as adding customs duties may be taken as sanctions. Its seems that trade conflicts over EVs is looming between the EU and China.