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

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

In statements to Euskadi Irratia, Tapia referred to the announcement of the European Commission imposed from July 4 next year Rates up to 38.1% on cars of electric batteries 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 measure announced last May by the president of USAJoe Biden, specifically, a 100% tax to electric vehicles from the Asian giant.

The confidential counselor has indicated that in principle it looks ‘positive’, although he does not yet know specifically ‘what type of agreement it will be and how far it can go’. According to you, you cannot speak of ‘protectionism’nor to ‘completely close the borders’, but to ‘produce under the same conditions’.

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

Therefore, Tapia does not believe that Europe wants to ‘close the market to China or the United States’, but has insisted that everyone should ‘play under the same conditions’. “Otherwise, our competitiveness may be at stakeand also those of the whole of Europe,” he declared.

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After insisting it was “positive” news, he indicated that there could also be “limits on the traditional automotive sector” from China, but he believes the European Union will seek an agreement at this time “because there is never pay these types of rates without seeking an agreement.

That said, he recalled that Euskadi has a “very important” auto parts sector and that more than 54% of the parts industry in the entire state is in the Basque Country, meaning that companies in Euskadi “operate globally. “

Tapia, who does not believe that China-based companies from the Basque Autonomous Community should worry, has indicated that the future of our industry must be guaranteed, an industry “much greener, more sustainable and digital, but also an industry that produces and” Europe has realized that the future is at stake and that these types of measures will have to be taken.”