this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2024
34 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

37643 readers
190 users here now

A nice place to discuss rumors, happenings, innovations, and challenges in the technology sphere. We also welcome discussions on the intersections of technology and society. If it’s technological news or discussion of technology, it probably belongs here.

Remember the overriding ethos on Beehaw: Be(e) Nice. Each user you encounter here is a person, and should be treated with kindness (even if they’re wrong, or use a Linux distro you don’t like). Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Subcommunities on Beehaw:

This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
alyaza@beehaw.org
TheRtRevKaiser@beehaw.org
gyrfalcon@beehaw.org
rs5th@beehaw.org
coldredlight@beehaw.org
Los@beehaw.org
SemioticStandard@beehaw.org
TheRtRevKaiser@kbin.social
remington@beehaw.org
34
EU approves steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (www.euronews.com)
submitted 2 days ago by 0x815@feddit.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
9 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3451147

Archived link

European Union countries failed to agree on whether to slap China-made electric vehicles (EVs) with steeper tariffs during a closely watched vote that ended with too many abstentions, forcing the European Commission to overcome the political impasse and push its proposal over the finish line.

The outcome of Friday's vote was not publicly available, although several diplomats told Euronews how each member state positioned itself:

  • 10 were in favour: Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands and Poland. (45.99% of the EU population)
  • 12 abstained: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Finland. (31.36%)
  • Five were against: Germany, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia. (22.65%)

The high number of abstentions reflects long-standing qualms about how Europe should stand up to China. Although the political consensus says that Beijing's unfair trade practices merit a forceful, united response, threats of commercial retaliation appear to have dampened the resolve of many capitals as the make-or-break date neared closer.

It was up to the Commission, which has exclusive powers to set the bloc's commercial policy, to break the gridlock and ensure the duties go through.

top 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Kissaki@beehaw.org 2 points 4 hours ago

threats of commercial retaliation appear to have dampened the resolve

A few days ago I saw an interview with an EU official (I don't remember who) which gave interesting insight.

They pointed out that they're talking with China about these tariffs, that they're taking a proof-based approach on them, reasoning and justifying with evidence of unfair subsidies, and that China has accepted such tariffs in the past for other things.

Collecting and discussing evidence obviously takes more time. But it defuses the "I put tariffs on you" -> "then I put tariffs on you" into a "these unjust subsidies were in place so we have to add these tariffs" -> "I don't like it but I see".

I wonder how those talks turned out, given that the tariffs have now been set. I guess I will hear from China if they object.

[–] Midnitte@beehaw.org 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

EU approves steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

European Union countries failed to agree on whether...

So... which is it?

[–] Markaos@lemmy.one 4 points 17 hours ago

Both? It's pretty well explained in the rest of the text (you don't even have to click a link)

It was up to the Commission, which has exclusive powers to set the bloc's commercial policy, to break the gridlock and ensure the duties go through.

The European Commission made the decision after the member countries failed to agree on how to proceed.

[–] jlow@beehaw.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My gut feeling is that that's not a smart move ...

[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah, on the one hand it seems pretty clear that they're trying to prevent competition/disruption and protect domestic car manufacturers' sales. On the other hand, I don't think I want China to end up with a monopoly on EVs.

Between a rock and a hard place, as they say.

[–] Jentu@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

If their EVs are so good/affordable that it would destroy all domestic EV car competition, couldn't non-chinese car companies just make better/more affordable EVs? Nah, gotta side with automotive corporations and against consumer choice.

This is the kind of garbage move that creates things like the Chicken Tax in the US, which is a big reason Americans drive around tanks now instead of regular sized pick-up trucks.

[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 7 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

couldn’t non-chinese car companies just make better/more affordable EVs?

If we assume they actually were that affordable in reality, then the answer would be yes.
The accusation is that the Chinese government is financing and supporting their domestic EV manufacturers in an effort to artificially lower their prices to levels no other manufacturer could ever match in an effort to dominate the market and remove all competition - at which point they could increase their prices drastically and recover the "investment" as there would be no-one else left to compete.

If it's true or not, I can't say, I haven't researched the subject enough. Those votes at least showcase that there is no clear consensus about it.

[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 5 points 7 hours ago

There's also the factor that China controls the largest "rare earth" mines which are the raw materials for battery manufacturing. Right now, a lot of non-chinese EV companies source their battery materials from China, who will obviously always give their domestic market an anti-competative advantage over any other country.

[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 2 points 7 hours ago

couldn't non-chinese car companies just make better/more affordable EVs?

Sure, if China didn't control the battery market.