HAMBURG, Germany — German automakers and industry associations are calling on the European Commission (EC) to roll back a threat to slap punitive import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, saying the move hurts local industry and jeopardizes their ability to do business in China.
China on Friday warned that the levies could spark a trade war, with a Commerce Ministry spokesperson saying “responsibility lies entirely with the EU side” just as Germany’s economy minister, Robert Habeck, started a three-day visit in Beijing.