Advertisement

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez visits China ahead of key EU vote on electric vehicle tariffs

Madrid previously backed the duties in an advisory vote, but if approved Beijing could widen a probe that could hit Spanish pork exports

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
11
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will meet President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials. Photo: dpa
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez begins a four-day visit to China today, ahead of a key vote by European Union members on whether to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Advertisement

In the coming weeks, EU members must decide whether to approve a European Commission plan to place duties of up to 36.3 per cent on Chinese-made EVs for the next five years, to counter what Brussels says are unfair subsidies.

If approved, the measure must be written into law by October 30 to take effect the following day.

Spain previously backed the move in an advisory vote, along with Italy and France, while Germany, Finland and Sweden abstained.

China has responded by launching its own probes into European food and drink imports, including pork products.

Advertisement

Spain is the leading source of pork imports into China, representing more than 20 per cent of the total.

Advertisement