MILAN: Italy backs tariffs proposed by the European Commission on Chinese exports of electric vehicles (EVs), Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday before a meeting in Rome with China\u2019s commerce minister.
\n\u201cWe support the duties that the EU Commission proposes, to protect the competitiveness of our companies,\u201d Tajani told daily Corriere della Sera in an interview.
\nMinister Wang Wentao is visiting Europe for discussions on the European Union\u2019s anti-subsidy case against China-made EVs as the vote on more tariffs looms.
\nHe was meeting Tajani on Monday morning and will hold talks with the European Commission\u2019s Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on Sept. 19.
\n\u201cWe want to work on a trade plan based on equality, we demand equal access for our products in their markets. Our companies must compete on equal terms,\u201d Tajani added.
\nItaly is aiming for a \u201cclimate of positive cooperation, and real reciprocity to avoid dumping and obstacles from Beijing, that at times are incomprehensible,\u201d he said.
\nItaly initially supported tariffs in a non-binding vote of EU members in July but Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told Reuters last week that he expected a negotiated solution.
\nItaly remains a major carmaker, home to brands including Fiat, part of the Stellantis group. It has also been seeking to woo Chinese carmakers including Dongfeng and Chery Auto to open factories in order to raise vehicle output.
\nTajani added that his position did not compromise Italy\u2019s \u201cgood relations\u201d with China.
\nAt the end of July Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited China, to boost co-operation with the world\u2019s second-largest economy and reset trade ties after leaving the Belt and Road infrastructure investment scheme.
\nPresident Sergio Mattarella is scheduled to visit China later this year, with Tajani part of the delegation, the minister said.
\nThe European Commission is on the brink of proposing final tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on EVs built in China, on top of the EU\u2019s standard 10 percent car import duty.
\nThe proposed duties will be subject to a vote by the EU\u2019s 27 members. They will be implemented by the end of October unless a qualified majority of 15 EU members representing 65 percent of the EU population vote against them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MILAN: Italy backs tariffs proposed by the European Commission on Chinese exports of electric vehicles (EVs), Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday before a meeting in Rome with China\u2019s commerce minister. \u201cWe support the duties that the EU Commission proposes, to protect the competitiveness of our companies,\u201d Tajani told daily Corriere della Sera […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":431566,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-431559","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n