Overview
- The European Commission published guidelines enabling Chinese EV exporters to propose minimum import prices instead of paying the extra anti‑subsidy surcharges of roughly 7.8% to 35.3% on top of the 10% duty.
- Minimum prices must match either the tariff‑inclusive level or the price of comparable EU-built models, and offers must detail distribution plans, potential cross‑subsidies and planned investments in the EU.
- Brussels will review submissions individually and says decisions can take up to about a year; Volkswagen submitted an offer in December covering a China‑built Seat model that is now under assessment.
- China’s commerce ministry and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Brussels welcomed the guidelines as a positive signal for stability and predictability.
- Consumers should not expect lower retail prices because the mechanism is designed to replicate the tariffs' effect and exporters would retain the difference rather than paying duties.