Chinese Automakers Seek Retaliatory Tariffs on EU Cars

A BYD Ocean-M electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP)
A BYD Ocean-M electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP)
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Chinese Automakers Seek Retaliatory Tariffs on EU Cars

A BYD Ocean-M electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP)
A BYD Ocean-M electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP)

Chinese automakers have urged Beijing to retaliate against Brussels' decision to place curbs on Chinese electric vehicle exports by raising tariffs on imported European gasoline-powered cars, the state-backed Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday.
In a closed-door meeting on Tuesday also attended by European automakers, Chinese car companies and industry groups suggested authorities hike tariffs on large gasoline-powered vehicles imported from the European Union, the report said, according to Reuters.
EU trade policy is turning increasingly protective owing to concerns China's production-focused, debt-driven development model could see the 27-member bloc flooded with cheap goods, including EVs, as Chinese firms look overseas due to weak domestic demand.
The European Commission's June 12 announcement that it would impose anti-subsidy duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese EVs from July follows the United States hiking tariffs on Chinese cars in May, and opens a new front in the West's trade war with Beijing, which began with Washington's initial import tariffs in 2018.
The Global Times first reported late last month that a Chinese government-affiliated auto research center was suggesting China raise its import tariffs on large gasoline-powered cars to 25%, citing an industry expert.
China's current import tariff for cars is 15%.
Chinese authorities have previously hinted at possible retaliatory measures through state media commentaries and interviews with industry figures.
The same newspaper last month also hinted that Chinese firms planned to ask authorities to open an anti-dumping investigation into European pork products, which China's commerce ministry on Monday announced it would undertake. It has also urged Beijing to look into EU dairy imports.



Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi Drop Talks on Business Integration

This combination of pictures created on February 13, 2025 shows the logo of Honda Motor (L) taken on February 6, 2025 at the company's showroom in Tokyo and the logo of Nissan Motor (R) being displayed at the company's showroom in Tokyo on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
This combination of pictures created on February 13, 2025 shows the logo of Honda Motor (L) taken on February 6, 2025 at the company's showroom in Tokyo and the logo of Nissan Motor (R) being displayed at the company's showroom in Tokyo on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
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Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi Drop Talks on Business Integration

This combination of pictures created on February 13, 2025 shows the logo of Honda Motor (L) taken on February 6, 2025 at the company's showroom in Tokyo and the logo of Nissan Motor (R) being displayed at the company's showroom in Tokyo on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
This combination of pictures created on February 13, 2025 shows the logo of Honda Motor (L) taken on February 6, 2025 at the company's showroom in Tokyo and the logo of Nissan Motor (R) being displayed at the company's showroom in Tokyo on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Japanese automakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi said Thursday they are ending talks on business integration.
Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida said the talks had changed focus from setting up a joint holding company to making Nissan into a subsidiary of Honda, The Associated Press reported.
“The intent was to join forces to win in the global competition, but this was not going to realize Nissan's potential, so I could not accept it,” he told reporters. He said that Nissan was going to aim for a turnaround without Honda instead.
Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe said in a separate news conference that Honda had suggested a stock swap to speed up decision-making.
“I am really disappointed,” Mibe told reporters. “I felt the potential was great, but I also knew actions that would bring pain were necessary to realize that."
The automakers agreed to end their agreement regarding the consideration of the structure for a collaboration, a joint statement said.
Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Corp. announced in December that they were going to hold talks to set up a joint holding company. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. had said it was considering joining that group.
From the start, the effort had analysts puzzled as to the advantages to any of the companies, as their model lineups and strengths overlap in an industry shaken by the arrival of powerful newcomers like Tesla and BYD, as well as the move to electrification.
Honda and Nissan initially said they were trying to finalize an agreement by June and set up the holding company by August.
The three automakers will continue to work together on electric vehicles and smart cars, such as autonomous driving, they said Thursday.
In recent weeks, Japanese media had various reports about the talks breaking down, citing unidentified sources. Some said Nissan balked at becoming a minor player in the partnership with Honda.
Mibe denied he knew or heard anything about the media speculation that Taiwan's Foxconn was considering taking a stake in Nissan.
Honda is in far better financial shape and was to take the lead in the joint executive team. Honda reported Thursday that its April-December 2024 profits declined 7% to 805 billion yen ($5 billion).
Nissan reported a loss for the July-September quarter as its vehicle sales sank, prompting it to slash 9,000 jobs. At that time, Uchida took a 50% pay cut to take responsibility for the results.