German car industry and politicians slam EU tariffs on Chinese EVs

German car industry and politicians slam EU tariffs on Chinese EVs German car industry and politicians slam EU tariffs on Chinese EVs

HAMBURG, Germany — Germany’s car industry and politicians on Wednesday slammed the European Commission’s decision to impose punitive tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, calling the move another nail in the coffin for Europe’s largest automotive sector.

It’s a “step backwards for free global trade, prosperity, job preservation and growth in Europe,” Hildegard Mueller, president of the Association of the Automotive Industry VDA, wrote in an email to Nikkei Asia. She said “the risk of a far-reaching trade conflict increases” with the EC move, which Germany voted against in early October.