Global efforts needed for free and fair EV trade

BEIJING: Both Chinese and European electric vehicle (EV) makers and experts are calling for global cooperation and opposing trade protectionism at the ongoing 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress.

With the deep development of advanced technologies, collaborative research and global industrial chain cooperation have become more important to the automotive industry, said German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) president Hildegard Mueller last Saturday at the congress.

“However, in 2024, we observe a rise in protectionist sentiments globally. An example is the EU’s (Europian Union) anti-subsidy investigation into EVs imported from China.

“For the EU, imposing anti-subsidy tariffs is not yet an answer to the challenges facing the European automotive industry.

“Rather, it could easily escalate into a new trade conflict, sparking a spiral of protectionism,” Mueller added.

She believed that for any country and region, any market, any industry, what’s needed is simply an active industrial strategy, adding that Europe in particular must ensure that the conditions for business are improved.

Mueller noted that the German automotive industry stands firm on the principles of free and fair trade.

“We at the VDA will continue to advocate for open markets, globalisation, international trade and investment and, above all, cooperation and continued dialogue.”

Geely Auto Group CEO Gan Jiayue also called on the new energy vehicle industry to strengthen its collaboration to achieve mutual benefits. –– Xinhua/ANN

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