Tapia sees it as “positive” to establish tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and denies that it is “protectionism”

The Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government, Arantxa Tapiahas described as “positive” the European initiative to establish tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles so that everyone “can play under the same conditions”.

In statements to Euskadi Irratia, Tapia has referred, in this way, to the announcement of the European Comission to be imposed starting next July 4 Tariffs of up to 38.1% on automobiles of electric battery imported from China, concluding that manufacturers in this country enjoy an “unfair” advantage due to the subsidies they receive from Beijing. This measure is added to the one announced last May by the president of USAJoe Biden, specifically, a 100% tax to electric vehicles from the Asian giant.

The counselor has indicated that, in principle, it seems “positive”, although without yet knowing specifically “what type of agreement it will be and how far it can go.” In her opinion, one cannot speak of “protectionism”nor to “close the borders completely”, but to “produce under the same conditions.”

According to him, the energy and climate transition must be carried out and companies must carry out numerous investments because the electric car is “Totally necessary”but has defended that, in this competition, “companies from all countries must always have the same conditions.”

Therefore, Tapia does not believe that Europe “wants to close the market to either China or the United States,” but has insisted that everyone must “play under the same conditions.” “Otherwise, our competitiveness may be at stakeand also that of all of Europe,” he stated.

Find the agreement

After insisting that it is “positive” news, he indicated that, from China, “limits to traditional automotive” could also come, but he believes that, at this time, the European Union is going to seek the agreement “because it never establishes this type of tariffs without seeking an agreement.

That said, he recalled that Euskadi has a “very important” automotive components sector and, specifically, more than 54% of the components industry in the entire State is in the Basque Country, which means that companies in Euskadi They are “playing globally.”

Tapia, who does not believe that companies from the Basque Autonomous Community established in China should be worried, has indicated that the future of our industry must be guaranteed, an industry “much greener, sustainable and digital, but also an industry that produces and “Europe has realized that the future is at stake and that measures like this will have to be adopted.”