In a recent statement, the Chinese government announced their plans to investigate whether the European Union’s probes into Chinese companies could be considered “trade barriers.”
The EU has been looking into China’s state support for industries like wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, leading to additional tariffs on imports from China. Now, China is concerned about the potential impact on their trade with the EU and will conduct an investigation to determine if the probes have violated their economic treaty.
The Ministry of Commerce in China will be leading the investigation, covering sectors such as rail, photovoltaics, wind power, and security inspection equipment. If the EU’s probes are deemed as “trade barriers,” negotiations could begin between the two sides or other measures may be taken to address the issue.
This announcement comes shortly after the implementation of provisional additional duties on Chinese-made EV imports in the EU. Talks between China and the EU are ongoing, with the possibility of definitive tariffs in November if an agreement is not reached.
Beijing has strongly opposed the EU tariffs and has promised to take all necessary actions to protect China’s interests. In response, China has launched investigations into imported pork and European brandy.
The latest investigation by MOFCOM was initiated in response to a request from a Chinese industry group in June and is expected to conclude by January 10. The ministry will utilize various methods such as questionnaires, hearings, and on-site checks during the investigation process.
