China and the European Union have made progress in consultations over the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs), according to a notification issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry said multiple rounds of consultations were held in the spirit of mutual respect, in line with the consensus reached at the China-EU Summit. Both sides agreed on the need to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger BEVs to the EU, aiming to address the EU’s concerns in a more practical and targeted manner while remaining consistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
As part of this process, the EU will issue a Guidance Document on Submission of Price Undertaking Offers. Under the document, the EU acknowledges that it will assess each price undertaking offer based on the same legal criteria, in an objective and fair manner, following the principle of non-discrimination and in accordance with relevant WTO rules.
The Ministry of Commerce said the progress reflects the outcomes of China-EU dialogue and demonstrates both sides’ willingness and ability to resolve differences through consultation within the WTO framework. It added that the consultations help maintain the stability of global automotive industrial and supply chains, including those in China and the EU.
The ministry noted that the developments are conducive to the healthy growth of China-EU economic and trade relations and to safeguarding the rules-based international trading system.
