The European Commission is reportedly preparing new tariffs on Chinese-made plug-in hybrid vehicles as the EU seeks to address trade imbalances and protect domestic automakers from growing competition.
The European Commission is preparing additional trade duties targeting Chinese-made plug-in hybrid vehicles, according to a report by the German business publication Handelsblatt on 19 June 2026.
The announcement comes as EU leaders intensify efforts to address the bloc’s widening trade imbalance with Beijing.
Sources cited by Handelsblatt—including senior EU officials and industry insiders—confirmed that groundwork is underway to enable rapid tariff implementation once EU member states achieve the necessary majority approval. The initiative specifically targets major Chinese automakers including BYD, Chery, and SAIC Motor.
The European Commission has not officially commented on the development, declining to confirm or deny plans.
This move extends an earlier enforcement action. The EU has already maintained countervailing duties on imported Chinese electric vehicles since 2024, as governments seek to protect domestic manufacturers from aggressive pricing by foreign rivals.
