Less than a month after Washington announced plans to quadruple duties for Chinese EVs to 100%, Brussels said it would set additional tariffs ranging from 17.4%  to 38.1%, on top of the standard 10% car duty. It said this was to combat excessive subsidies.

European automakers are being challenged by an influx of lower-cost EVs from Chinese rivals. The Commission estimates Chinese brands' share of the EU market has risen to 8% from below 1% in 2019 and could reach 15% in 2025. It says prices are typically 20% below those of EU-made models.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the EU's investigation was a "typical case of protectionism" and tariffs would damage China-EU economic cooperation and the stability of the global automobile production and supply chains.

Beijing, he said, would take all necessary measures to "firmly safeguard" its legitimate rights and interests.