China’s commerce minister due in Paris for electric vehicle talks

China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao is due in Paris on Sunday for talks that are expected to cover China’s fast growing export of cheap electric vehicles (EVs) into the European market.
Four sources briefed on Wang’s trip told Reuters in late March that the discussions would focus on a European Commission investigation into whether China’s EV industry has benefited from unfair subsidies.
European carmakers have a fight on their hands to produce lower-cost electric vehicles and erase China’s lead in developing cheaper models.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm which forecasts China’s share of EVs sold in Europe could reach 15% of the market in 2025, says Chinese EVs benefit from huge state subsidies and is examining whether to impose punitive tariffs.