German state politician calls for EU tariffs on Chinese hybrid cars, letter shows

By Andreas Rinke

BERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Sebastian Lechner, the CDU state chairman ‌of Lower Saxony, is calling for ‌the European Union to quickly impose import tariffs ​on Chinese hybrid cars, a letter seen by Reuters on Friday showed.

• “It is precisely these hybrids that are currently facing the ‌greatest import ⁠pressure from Chinese automakers,” Lechner told Reuters later on Friday.

• Lechner ⁠pointed to an OECD study showing that approximately 60% of the market share ​held by ​Chinese products abroad ​is attributable to ‌subsidies, something he called a “distortion of competition” in trade policy. “We expect the European Commission and the German federal government to adjust our trade policy toward China,” the politician ‌said.

• In Lower Saxony, ​the issue is an ​important one ​for the Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen Group.

• ‌Import duties are already ​in place ​for electric cars from China and Lechner said EU tariffs on hybrid cars ​from China ‌must be imposed quickly.

(Reporting by Andreas ​Rinke, writing by Maria Martinez; ​Editing by Kirsten Donovan)