Brief
EU trade chief leads talks in China to curb cheap hybrid car imports
EU negotiators seek a pilot agreement on hybrid cars as China’s trade surplus reaches £1 billion daily.
By Felo News Desk · Published
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and his team flew to China on Wednesday for two days of intensive negotiations aimed at limiting cheap hybrid electric car exports to Europe, The Guardian reported.
What happened
The talks are scheduled to start Thursday and run late into Friday. Sources say the EU hopes to secure “tangible, meaningful and measurable” results before the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels the following Thursday. The focus is on a pilot “proof of concept” agreement covering the car sector, which could be expanded to other industries.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that the negotiations follow diplomatic efforts that began at the end of June to avoid a full‑scale trade war. After the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in October 2024, hybrid car exports surged because they were not covered by those duties. Last month the EU asked China to voluntarily restrict hybrid exports, warning that safeguards such as quotas could be introduced if no restriction was offered.
What was said
Andrew Small, former EU adviser on China and Asia director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Guardian that the talks will test the resolve of both Beijing and Brussels and will “determine whether China is willing to put sufficiently serious offers on the table”. He warned that China might try to draw Europe into a “process trap” by offering limited concessions that delay decisive action.
How it came about
EU officials have been concerned about a record £1 billion‑a‑day trade surplus for China and the impact of cheap hybrid cars on European manufacturers. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently aligned with French President Emmanuel Macron, supporting a new EU instrument that would allow rapid defence measures, including cutting market access, if third‑country imports threaten the bloc’s industrial base.
Key facts
- EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič travelled to China for two‑day talks on hybrid car imports (theguardian.com)
- The EU seeks a pilot agreement on hybrid electric cars to curb cheap imports (theguardian.com)
- China’s trade surplus with the EU is about £1 billion per day (theguardian.com)
- Andrew Small warned China could offer a “process trap” to delay action (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “EU negotiators head to China hoping to curb cheap imports of hybrid electric cars”
