Readout of meeting between EVP Dombrovskis and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang

The principals held a frank and constructive discussion focusing on the ongoing EU investigation on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China.

Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis reaffirmed that the investigation on BEVs from China is based strictly on facts and evidence and is in full compliance with WTO rules and EU law. He stressed that the EU market will remain open to imports of Chinese electric vehicles, as the EU’s aim is to compensate only for identified subsidies, thus allowing for fair competition on the internal market and a level playing field.

Both sides reaffirmed their political will to pursue and intensify efforts in finding a mutually agreeable solution, which would need to be effective in addressing the problem, enforceable, monitorable, as well as WTO-compatible. The two sides agreed to take a renewed look at price undertakings.

The principals agreed to instruct their respective teams to put maximum effort to work towards a mutually agreeable solution. They also agreed to keep the channel of communication open at ministerial level. In the meantime, EVP Dombrovskis informed his counterpart that the EU continues its formal process under the BEVs investigation that is bound by the WTO legal deadlines.

Furthermore, EVP Dombrovskis expressed the EU’s strong concerns regarding China’s trade defence investigations against EU imports of brandy, pork and dairy. He stressed that these investigations are unwarranted, are based on questionable allegations, and lack sufficient evidence. The EVP thus called for these investigations to be terminated and informed the Chinese side that the EU will do its utmost to defend the interests of its industries.

EVP Dombrovskis used this occasion to reiterate the EU’s increasing concerns regarding China’s role in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia.

Both sides also discussed the follow-up to the EU-China High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and the need to rebalance trade and economic relations.

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