Sweden will abstain in Monday’s vote by European Union member states on imposing provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, Johan Forssell, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, told Reuters on Monday.
The European Union is imposing provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on EVs imported from China, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing in the EU’s largest trade case yet. “Sweden will not vote for (the measure) but will abstain,” Forssell said in a written comment. “Sweden is a strong voice for free trade and open markets.”
Forssell said he had held discussions with the Commission and Sweden’s vehicle industry to try and find alternatives to the tariffs. “The continued dialogue between the Commission and China will be very important and something we will follow actively,” he said.
The first vote is not binding and will be followed by a final vote after which the European Commission’s tariff proposal will be adopted unless there is qualified majority against it.
