STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed caution regarding possible EU punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. During his visit to Stockholm on Tuesday, the SPD politician referred to the "mutual exchange" between the European Union and China. "European manufacturers are successful on the Chinese market and also sell a large number of vehicles produced in Europe to China," said Scholz after a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. In addition, 50 percent of the electric cars imported from China come from Western brands that produce there.

US President Joe Biden had previously raised the existing special tariffs on electric cars from China to 100 percent. The United States accuses Beijing of distorting competition through substantial state subsidies. For the same reason, the EU Commission also announced last year that it would examine possible punitive tariffs. In Stockholm, Scholz emphasized that the results of this review were not yet available./ax/mfi/bw/mee/DP/men