- cross-posted to:
- europe@feddit.org
- unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
- europe@lemmy.dbzer0.com
- cross-posted to:
- europe@feddit.org
- unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
- europe@lemmy.dbzer0.com
cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11516471
Brussels has warned [UK PM] Andy Burnham that Britain would need to raise tariffs on Chinese cars and more closely align with EU trade policy if it wants to avoid “made in Europe” barriers that would hit key exports.
In response to weeks of intense lobbying to secure equal treatment for UK products, the EU told London that its best solution would be to join the bloc’s customs union, according to two people familiar with the matter.
“A customs union would solve most of the problems of ‘made in Europe’,” said an EU official. “And also the question of tariff differences, which leads to fears the Chinese could avoid our tariffs by routing through the UK.”
The “made in Europe” policy is intended to favour EU manufacturers on subsidies and public procurement in an effort to defend the bloc against competition from China.
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“The concern today is no longer a hyper-competitive, globalised Britain on Europe’s doorstep, but a Britain that could become a backdoor into the European market for Chinese goods,” an EU official said.
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At the same time, the UK is pressing Brussels to include its car, chemical and energy supply chains in the bloc’s “made in Europe” agenda, which it fears could exclude British industry from valuable EU subsidy programmes.
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Nissan’s European boss Massimiliano Messina warned this month that the UK risked becoming a “corridor” into the EU for Chinese EVs. “The whole UK has to adjust some of [the country’s] tariff policy,” he said.
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In a sign of rising tensions between London and Brussels over differing approaches to trade with China, the EU this month announced it would monitor exports of titanium dioxide into Europe from the UK.
The EU move came after the UK’s competition authorities cleared China’s largest producer of the industrial whitening agent to purchase a plant in Teesside, north-east England, that went into receivership last October.
“The message is that if the UK doesn’t align in trade, it will lose a lot of access. The EU will protect more against the UK,” said Marie-Sophie Dibling, a partner at law firm Cassidy Levy Kent, which has represented the EU chemicals industry.
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The [UK’s} Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said it was looking to explore deeper co-operation with the EU …
“We always put trade measures in place independently and based only on the UK’s economic interests and those of industry. However, Europe and the UK face many of the same challenges, which is why it is vital we protect trade flows between us,” it added.
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Unfortunately the lack of ethics in most people is meaningless when it comes to saving money. The world has been buying cheap Chinese (and to an extent), Asian stuff for decades. This is nothing new.
Also many Chinese cars are made in Europe, but i cant remember what countries so don’t know if they fall under EU rules.
German carmaker Volkswagen, for example, exited its Chinese joint venture with SAIC in Xinjiang a couple of years ago just because of this. The perpetrator is is China and its carmakers.
No, most Chinese cars sold in Europe are made in China. The number of cars by Chinese brands that are made in Europe are less than 1% of the total production volume in Europe. This is next to nothing compared to Germany producing 21% of cars sold in the EU, followed by Spain, Czechia, France, and Slovakia, all well above China. Even according to Chinese carmakers own forecasts, their combined production volume to be produced in Europe will remain negligible compared to any European brand in the coming years.
Consider me educated.
It’s not entirely that. I am a EU fan but the carmakers have walked into mess themselves. They stopped thinking of the customer and are producing inefficient, expensive anti consumer car offerings and expecting others to adjust for their bad behavior.