The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced today Wednesday that it will take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights of Chinese automobile manufacturersfollowing the EU’s decision to raise tariffs on electric vehicles made in China.

China will closely monitor the situation and supports the decision of the European coalition violates global trade rules, stated in a ministry statement.

Moreover, from Frankfurt, the German Minister of Transport warned today against a “trade war” with Beijing, following the European Commission’s decision on additional duties on electric vehicles originating in China.

These tariffs “harm German companies and their best products,” liberal minister Volker Vissing wrote in X.

“Vehicles must become less expensive through increased competition, open markets and better conditions for establishing businesses within the EU and not through a trade war and sealing off markets,” he adds.

Germany, whose automakers have many operations in China, battled Sweden and Hungary to avoid sanctions against Chinese manufacturers, fearing retaliation. For German companies Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes, China is the main national market, accounting for up to 36% in sales volume.

“This measure further increases the risk of a global trade conflict,” the German Association of Automobile Manufacturers (VDA) said in a statement.

“The potential damage from the measures announced today may be more important than the potential advantages for the European car industry – and especially the German one”, estimates the president of the lobby Hildegard Müller.

She also emphasized that the world “needs” China to “solve global problems”, such as the climate crisis.