Jonathan Reynolds has rejected EU pressure for UK tariffs on Chinese imports, saying trade decisions will be based on UK interests. He also dismissed claims that Britain could become a route into the EU for Chinese cars.
Follow the storyChina6 stories
01Summary
- 01Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government will not change its trade rules because of pressure from Brussels.
- 02The EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024 and last Friday agreed a quota of 350,000 a year on Chinese hybrid cars.
- 03Reynolds said the UK would not become a “back door” for cheap Chinese imports into the European market.
- 04He said the UK has no major Chinese car manufacturer based in its automotive sector.
- 05The UK-EU summit is due to be held in Brussels on 20 November.
02Why it matters
The row matters because it shows a key tension in UK-EU relations over trade with China. It could affect talks on wider cooperation, including future access to European schemes and supply chains.
Pulse AIAsk about this story
Answers are generated by AI from the story summary; they are not investment, health or legal advice.
