UK will not put tariffs on Chinese vehicles, says Jonathan Reynolds
Source: The Guardian ·
Exclusive: Business secretary says he will not change trade rules due to EU pressure and denies UK will become a ‘back door’ for cheap importsThe business secretary has hit back at European demands for British tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the government will not change its trade rules because of pressure from Brussels.Jonathan Reynolds warned that the government would not bow to calls from…
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The business secretary has hit back at European demands for British tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the government will not change its trade rules because of pressure from Brussels. Jonathan Reynolds warned that the government would not bow to calls from other countries for the UK to hit Chinese vehicles with import taxes, despite political pressure to align with the EU in exchange for deeper future economic ties. The EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024 and last Friday agreed a 350,000 a year quota on Chinese hybrid cars amid fears cheaper alternatives are causing deindustrialisation and job losses. Reynolds conceded that levying sanctions on Chinese goods was an option in the future, but he dismissed concerns from Brussels that the UK could provide a back door to the European market. His comments highlight the divisions that remain between the UK and EU on trade and industrial policy, which could derail the prime minister’s attempts to move closer to Brussels.…