The European Union said it introduced the China-specific tariffs in response to what it says are unfair subsidies that include low-interest loans, cheap land, and supplier discounts, claims China has strongly denied. Tesla’s legal challenge is in response to the EU introducing tariffs at the end of October of 7.8 percent on Tesla’s China-made vehicles. The bloc has also set tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on other China-made EVs. The new tariffs come on top of a 10 percent standard import tariff that was already in place for electric vehicle imports into the EU. Tesla’s legal challenge will be heard in the EU’s General Court. Any verdict handed down there could then be challenged in the European Court of Justice. The court case comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between the EU and Musk, who is the world’s richest individual. Is the west trying to slow down the rise of China by all means ?
