More talks on cards as EU votes for higher EV tariffs

China and Europe are expected to conduct a new round of negotiations on tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles today, a unit of state broadcaster CCTV reported.

On Friday, the European Commission said it would push forward with hefty tariffs on China-made EVs, even after the bloc's largest economy Germany rejected them.

News agency Xinhua said the move revealed a deep-seated protectionist impulse. "Instead of fostering co-operation, these tariffs risk sparking a trade conflict that could harm not only China-EU relations but also Europe's own ambition for a green transition," it said.

European imports of Chinese-made EVs have soared in recent years, raising concerns among domestic EV producers that they could suffer significant losses from cheap Chinese EVs.

The proposed duties on EVs built in China of up to 45 percent would cost carmakers billions of extra dollars to bring cars into the bloc and are set to be imposed from next month for five years.

The Commission has said the tariffs would counter what it sees as unfair Chinese subsidies after a year-long anti-subsidy investigation.

The chief executive of German carmaker Volkswagen said the EU should consider adjusting planned tariffs against China-made electric vehicles to make allowances for investments made in Europe.