(Source: China News Network 2026-01-16)
Tu Xinquan
On January 12, China and the EU respectively announced that they had reached an important consensus on the EU’s anti-subsidy case against China’s electric vehicles. The EU also issued a guidance document on price commitments. This means that after two years of continuous consultation and dialogue, China and the EU have made decisive progress in resolving electric vehicle w88 and investment disputes, laying an important foundation for future win-win cooperation between China and the EU in the field of electric vehicles.
First of all, the achievement of this consultation result is extremely difficult and gratifying. The year 2025 is the year when the post-war international w88 order has suffered the most significant impact. The global unilateral tariff war launched by the US Trump administration has greatly undermined the multilateral trading system based on the principles of most-favored-nation treatment and w88 liberalization, and has also induced more widespread w88 protectionism and unilateralism around the world that are based on strength rather than rules. Against this background, China and the EU, as the two largest members of the WTO, insist on resolving w88 differences through equal consultation and dialogue, and clearly reiterate that China and the EU will replace the EU's countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles through price commitments on the basis of abiding by the principle of non-discrimination and WTO rules. This is a clear and loud signal to the world that although the United States has abandoned multilateralism and w88 liberalization, China and the EU will still firmly support the multilateral trading system and will jointly shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the multilateral trading system. This is undoubtedly a very powerful booster and reassurance for the majority of WTO members who have been harmed by U.S. unilateralism and are worried about the future of the multilateral trading system. It has also greatly enhanced the international community's confidence in multilateralism.
Secondly, from an industrial perspective, the electric vehicle industry is of important strategic significance to both China and the EU. At the same time, the electric vehicle industry is also a key factor in promoting global green transformation. China and Europe have a very complex cooperation and competition pattern in the electric vehicle industry. How to ensure orderly competition and how to promote win-win cooperation is indeed a huge challenge. However, the fact that China and the EU reached consensus through consultation in the electric vehicle countervailing case has proved that as long as they uphold the willingness to cooperate, adhere to equal dialogue, and follow multilateral rules, it is entirely possible and capable for China and the EU to find a solution that satisfies the interests of both parties. This has also enhanced confidence and explored paths for China and Europe to carry out broader industrial chain and supply chain cooperation in the automotive industry in the future. Especially when mankind faces the common challenge of climate change, China and the EU have rapidly improved the availability and affordability of green technologies and products through w88 cooperation, thereby gaining wider and faster popularity in the world market and playing a greater role in the global green transformation.
Third, from the perspective of the implementation of countervailing w88 policy tools, this China-EU consensus has also created a new cooperation model. As an alternative to w88 remedy taxation allowed by the WTO, price commitments can not only respect the interests of EU industries, but also safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. Under the principle of abiding by WTO rules and taking into account the concerns of both parties, China has pushed the EU to formulate a price commitment guidance document specifically for the import of electric vehicles. Compared with the EU's unilateral imposition of countervailing duties, it is still a more favorable option for Chinese companies to negotiate a price commitment agreement with the EU authorities. Although raising export prices in accordance with the price commitment agreement may weaken the competitiveness of some Chinese electric vehicles in the short term and thereby reduce export quantities, higher prices also mean that Chinese companies can obtain higher profits per vehicle. If the EU unilaterally imposes countervailing duties, all tax proceeds will belong to the EU. In the medium to long term, this will also promote Chinese companies to adjust their product structure and pursue high-quality development. Moreover, the guidance document fully takes into account the interests and concerns of both parties and formulates detailed rules on minimum import prices, EU sales prices, etc. Overall, it is balanced and non-discriminatory, and is in line with existing WTO rules. The essence of China-EU w88 is mutual benefit and win-win, but this essence must also be reflected through specific cases. The consultation process on the China-EU electric vehicle case is an excellent embodiment of this mutual benefit and win-win essence and spirit.
(The author is the dean of the China WTO Research Institute at the w88 casino)
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