• The tariffs will come into force in November unless a qualified majority of EU members vote against them.
  • An investigation by the European Commission found that the Chinese government is unfairly subsidising domestic car manufacturers.
  • The proposed tariffs have been adjusted frequently in recent weeks.

Long-announced tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles from the EU could come into force in November, about six weeks after the bloc voted to adopt them on September 25.

China has been grappling with the potential impact of additional tariffs since the European Commission launched an investigation into locally manufactured electric vehicles last year. Europe has proposed significant tariff increases for all affected brands, with the size of the tariff increases depending on how well the brands cooperate with the investigation.

Read: EU again cuts tariffs on Tesla and Geely, but China wants talks to resolve the dispute

Sources believe the European Union will vote on imposing definitive tariffs later this month. If the vote is successful, the tariffs will come into force in November. The process could only be delayed if a qualified majority – which would require at least 15 member states, or 65 percent of the EU population – votes against the tariffs.

Auto News reports that Chinese and EU officials have held several meetings this month to discuss alternatives to the tariffs, but little progress has been made. The EU believes a solution must be based on World Trade Organization rules and address the subsidies that Chinese electric vehicles benefit from. Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao will visit Europe next week to speak with EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

EU could vote on official tariffs on Chinese electric cars this month

The EU has made several changes to the proposed tariffs in recent weeks. Most recently, it reduced the tariff rate for Tesla from 9% to 7.8%, after initially imposing a tariff of 20.8% on the carmaker. This is because Tesla has not received as much support from the Chinese government as other carmakers, but has received discounted batteries.

Geely’s tariff rate was also reduced from 19.9% ​​to 18.8%. The EU also reduced tariffs on SAIC – which owns MG – from 36.6% to 35.3%. SAIC was hit with the highest tariff rate for not cooperating sufficiently with the investigation. All of these tariffs are in addition to the existing 10% tariff on imported cars.

EU could vote on official tariffs on Chinese electric cars this month