America shut out Chinese EVs. Britain welcomed them
Britain faces a finely balanced choice over whether to follow the EU in imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs.
TL;DR
- The U.K. has a standard 10% import duty on Chinese EVs, contrasting with the U.S.'s 100% tariff and the EU's up to 35.3% manufacturer-specific duties.
- Chinese EV and hybrid registrations in the U.K. rose significantly, capturing 28.1% market share between January and August.
- The U.K. is considering matching EU tariffs to avoid "Made in Europe" proposals that could disadvantage domestic companies selling into the EU.
- China has expressed "serious concern" and opposition to potential U.K. tariffs, warning of retaliatory measures.
- Experts suggest that a durable response requires pairing trade remedies with incentives for local production and infrastructure development.