China, EU reach consensus on hybrid and electric vehicle trade: spokesperson

(ECNS) -- China and the European Union have reached a series of understandings on hybrid and electric vehicle trade through continued dialogue under their trade and investment consultation mechanism, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said Monday.

The spokesperson was responding to a question about recent talks between China and the EU on hybrid and electric vehicle trade, which helped avert an escalation of tensions, and about media speculation over the details of the hybrid vehicle arrangements, including quotas.

China and the EU held intensive consultations on trade in hybrid and electric vehicles on the basis of mutual respect and equality, seeking to balance trade and economic differences with each other's concerns, the spokesperson said.

On hybrid vehicles, the two sides confirmed three basic principles, the spokesperson said.

First, respect for facts. According to Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, the EU imported 107,000 hybrid vehicles from China in 2024 and 302,000 in 2025. The two sides agreed on an upward adjustment based on the 2025 figure to ensure export opportunities and stable growth for Chinese enterprises, while taking into account the reasonable concerns of both industries in light of actual circumstances, the spokesperson said.

Second, non-discrimination. No measures will specifically target Chinese products, let alone discriminate against Chinese enterprises. The quota allocated to China will be no lower than that allocated to any other source of imports into the EU, the spokesperson said.

Third, compliance. The two sides confirmed that the trade arrangements should comply with World Trade Organization rules. China reserves all its rights under the WTO framework, including the right to seek dispute settlement and request trade compensation, the spokesperson said. These three principles have been upheld throughout the process and provide a solid foundation for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson added.

Regarding electric vehicles, China and the EU achieved a "soft landing" in the anti-subsidy case in January, and the EU issued general guidance on price undertaking offers. The EU will actively advance procedures related to company-specific price undertakings in the electric vehicle case, as well as other review procedures, the spokesperson said.

The understandings, reached on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, effectively safeguard the interests of Chinese enterprises and help prevent an escalation of China-EU trade frictions. They also provide a stable, predictable and sustainable trade and investment environment for both sides, helping promote the stable, balanced and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the spokesperson said.

(By Evelyn)