China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao hinted at the possibility of the advantages to his German counterpart Robert Habeck during a meeting on Saturday in Beijing, one of the people said. His three-day visit came weeks after the EU proposed hiking charges on electric cars to as high as 48% later this year.
Beijing has suggested Germany’s luxury car manufacturers could benefit if Berlin convinces the European Union to drop tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports, according to people familiar with the matter.
China floated lowering its existing tariffs on large-engine cars in return for scrapping planned EV levies on imports from the Asian nation, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks. Beijing currently imposes a 15% fee on passenger vehicles from the bloc.
