Big taxes will be imposed on imports of electric vehicles from China to the EU after the majority of member states backed the plans. The move to introduce tariffs aims to protect the European car industry from being undermined by what EU politicians believe are unfair Chinese-state subsidies on its own cars.

The European Commission announced on Friday that its proposal to impose tariffs on imports of battery electric vehicles from China received the necessary support from EU member states. Reports indicate that 10 EU members backed the tariff proposal,

The European Union unleashed one of its most powerful economic tools on China, imposing tariffs on electric vehicles in a move that increases the risk of retaliatory measures and backfiring on domestic consumers and companies.