Mercedes CEO urges EU to find equitable solution to China-made EV tariff dispute

Victoria Waldersee - Reuters - 07:41
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said on Wednesday the German automaker was urging the European Union to find an "equitable solution" to create a level-playing field for China-made electric vehicles in Europe.
SHANGHAI, April 23 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE), opens new tab CEO Ola Källenius said on Wednesday the German automaker was urging the European Union to find an "equitable solution" to create a level-playing field for China-made electric vehicles in Europe.
A pure tariff barrier was the "crudest instrument" that could be applied, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Shanghai auto show.

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"We need to seek win wins. A conversation about a level playing field in an open market is always legitimate. But a pure tariff barrier is the crudest instrument you can apply," he said.
"We have wished for the EU and negotiators on the Chinese side to come up with an equitable solution and from what I have read and heard, they are in discussions. History tells us that economies exposed to the full force of competition are the most innovative. That is what we would like."
The EU increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45.3% last October, bu...
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