European Union member states are expected to confirm the imposition of punitive tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in a vote on Friday.
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Frantic efforts by the governments of China and Germany to stop the tariffs are expected to fall short, meaning duties of up to 35 per cent will be slapped on imports of the cars from Saturday.
Blocking the tariffs requires 15 member states, accounting for 65 per cent of the bloc’s total population, to vote against them during the confidential procedure.
Capitals received notification of the timing from the European Commission last Friday, along with the final details of the level of duties.
Germany’s ambassador to the EU Michael Clauss said on Tuesday that the bloc’s most powerful member has yet to make up its mind how to vote, but he expects most capitals to abstain on Friday, meaning the “tariffs, in all likelihood, will be confirmed”.
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An abstention will not count as a vote against in the EU’s Byzantine procedures. It also offers individual member states some cover from Chinese retaliation, showing that “you don’t want to go against the proposal, but it sends a signal that you aren’t the ones pushing for it”, Clauss told a three-day event in Brussels hosted by Politico.