Spain calls on EU to 'reconsider' tariffs on Chinese electric cars

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on Wednesday for a reevaluation of European Union tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicle imports and for bridge-building between China and the EU rather than confrontation.

"We don't need another war, in this case a trade war," Sánchez said at the end of a visit to China that took in meetings with President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese officials,

"I think that we need to build bridges between the European Union and China," he added. Spain would act in a constructive way and attempt to find a compromise on the issue, he said.

"I have to be blunt and frank. I think we need to reconsider – all of us, not only the member states but also the commission – our position towards this movement," the Spanish prime minister said, stressing that Spain was reconsidering its own position.

According to media reports, Spain backed additional tariffs on Chinese electric car imports during the summer, but has indicated a possible change in his country's stance ahead of an important vote in October.

The commission announced the tariffs in June following a lengthy investigation. It imposed "provisional countervailing duties" in addition to standard import tariffs on electric cars from China.

According to Brussels, Chinese manufacturers are getting "unfair" subsidies that are leading to distortions in the EU market.

Beijing accuses the EU of protectionism and has reacted with investigations into pork imports from the EU. Spain, as a major exporter of pork products, could be hit hard by restrictions.