China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is set to travel to Europe in the coming days to engage in discussions regarding the European Union's anti-subsidy case concerning electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured in China, as a vote on potential additional tariffs on EVs approaches.
Wang is scheduled to meet with Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission's Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner, on September 19, according to a spokesperson from the Chinese ministry during a routine press briefing.
This announcement follows the recent visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to China, where he unexpectedly suggested that the EU should reassess its stance on the matter.
The European Commission, responsible for EU trade policies, is nearing a decision to propose final tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese-built EVs, in addition to the standard 10% import duty on cars.
These proposed tariffs will require a vote from the EU's 27 member states and are expected to be enacted by the end of October unless a qualified majority of 15 member states, representing 65% of the EU population, oppose the measures.
"We don't need another trade war," Sanchez stated during his visit to China on Wednesday. "In my opinion, we need to rethink our position."
Historically, Spain has been one of the more vocal advocates for EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, commented on Sanchez's remarks, describing them as indicative of "rational and objective thinking."
"China expresses its desire for collaboration with the European Union (EU) to address economic and trade tensions through constructive dialogue and negotiation. This collaborative approach aims to cultivate a healthy and stable economic and trade relationship between China and the EU," she stated during a routine press conference.