China warned the European Union on Saturday against holding unilateral price talks with individual carmakers on top of negotiations with Beijing over countervailing duties on imports of Chinese electric cars.
This would “shatter the foundation of negotiations and mutual trust,” Beijing’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
The Chinese side had shown “the utmost sincerity and flexibility” during the negotiations so far, the report continued.
The ministry called on the EU to send a delegation to China as soon as possible to continue the next phase of consultations.
The EU had previously rejected a Chinese proposal that electric cars produced in China should be sold in Europe at a mandatory minimum price of 30,000 euros.
Beijing had hoped the move would prevent the introduction of EU countervailing duties to offset government subsidies on Chinese electric vehicle production.
In early October, a vote among EU member states cleared the way for tariffs on electric cars from China. This means that the European Commission may decide to introduce import duties of up to 35.3%.
In turn, China responded on Tuesday with an interim measure against European brandy. According to the Ministry of Commerce, brandy importers will have to pay a deposit of 30.6% to 39% of the value of the goods to Chinese customs.
The European Commission said it would take action against the measure at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Beijing accuses the EU of protectionism over EV tariffs, ignoring facts and ignoring WTO rules.