{"text":[[{"start":9.05,"text":"Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds is keeping the idea of higher UK tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles “under review” despite having recently dismissed the EU’s calls for such a move. "}],[{"start":19.85,"text":"Reynolds has authorised officials to draw up a package of potential tariffs that could be imposed on Chinese car imports, which have become increasingly popular in the UK. "}],[{"start":29.900000000000002,"text":"But he has not given a green light to the measures because they could prompt reciprocal Chinese tariffs that would damage British carmakers that export to China, in particular Jaguar Land Rover."}],[{"start":41.35,"text":"Brussels has warned UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham that Britain will need to raise tariffs on Chinese cars and align more closely with EU trade policy if it wants to avoid “Made in Europe” barriers that would hit key exports."}],[{"start":55.1,"text":"Britain hopes to join the EU’s “Made in Europe” scheme, which is being debated in Europe and will not be finalised until December at the earliest."}],[{"start":63.55,"text":"The UK government is facing growing pressure from the EU’s new Industrial Accelerator Act, which is intended to bolster European industry against cheaper imports from China and other parts of Asia."}],[{"start":75.3,"text":"Ministers are pressing for the UK to be treated as a “European” partner because of industry fears the new rules could severely damage UK firms participating in EU supply chains in industrial sectors including autos, green energy and chemicals."}],[{"start":90.05,"text":"Sam Lowe, partner at the Flint Global consultancy advising on UK and EU trade policy, said Brussels wanted UK tariffs on Chinese cars because of concerns about two areas in the auto sector."}],[{"start":101.85,"text":"“The EU is worried that Chinese EV exports to the UK eat up market share from European-made vehicles, and that China invests in the UK as a means of getting into Made in Europe by the back door,” he added."}],[{"start":114.6,"text":"The UK currently has only a standard 10 per cent import duty on Chinese electric cars. By contrast, the EU has since 2024 imposed its maximum 45 per cent levy while the US has a 100 per cent tariff. "}],[{"start":128.6,"text":"Reynolds said last week that he would not implement tariffs just because of a request from other countries and would do so only if it were in Britain’s interests. "}],[{"start":137.85,"text":"The business secretary said that introducing levies would help some UK automotive companies such as Nissan but would damage others, including JLR, that have large exports to China and could be hit by reciprocal tariffs. "}],[{"start":150.29999999999998,"text":"“Our core interests are slightly different to the EU as a whole as we are an export-led industry. We have markets all around the world and, frankly, if you end up imposing tariff barriers against countries — and then lose your market access because of reciprocal arrangements — you’re not gaining,” he told a panel at the Labour conference. "}],[{"start":167.49999999999997,"text":"“I always keep it under review and if that balance tips towards the need to look at it again, I would.”"}],[{"start":173.44999999999996,"text":"China’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment. "}],[{"start":177.39999999999995,"text":"The UK car industry does not have a unified stance on whether the country should impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, especially with government officials keen to court Chinese carmakers to build new plants. "}],[{"start":188.99999999999994,"text":"The UK has historically pointed to its open-market conditions in its negotiations with Chinese groups considering the higher energy and labour costs compared with those of eastern European countries."}],[{"start":199.79999999999995,"text":"New Chinese brands such as BYD, Jaecoo, Chery, Omoda, Changan and Geely accounted for more than 20 per cent of new EV sales in the UK in September, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders."}],[{"start":215.19999999999996,"text":"The Jaecoo 7, dubbed the “Temu Range Rover” by some, was the best-selling model in the UK, according to the SMMT."}],[{"start":222.24999999999997,"text":"Nissan’s European boss Massimiliano Messina warned last month that the UK risked becoming a “corridor” into the EU for Chinese EVs. “The whole UK has to adjust some of [the country’s] tariff policy,” he said."}],[{"start":236.79999999999998,"text":"But the Japanese carmaker is also negotiating with Chery, which owns the Jaecoo and Omoda brands, to build the Chinese group’s cars at its Sunderland plant to help fill extra capacity. "}],[{"start":254.79999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1791223814_9556.mp3"}