Ling Ji, China’s vice minister of commerce, told Czech officials on Sunday that “China disagrees with and does not accept” this decision, according to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
He also said that Beijing hopes that the Prague government will “play an active role” in creating “political will and negotiation sincerity in the China-Europe electric vehicle consultation.”
In parallel with the imposition of duties, Brussels and Beijing are negotiating alternative, World Trade Organization-compatible solutions to address the unfair subsidization without the imposition of duties.
“China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Czech side” in various fields, Beijing added.
The Czech representatives present at the meeting, according to the Chinese statement, said that Prague “advocated free trade and opposed protectionism.” Prague also “attaches great importance to the development of economic and trade cooperation with China,” the statement said.
Czech officials have not commented on the meeting.
