STORY: High tariffs on Chinese EVs won't help EU industry: Croatian expert
SHOOTING TIME: May 23, 2024
DATELINE: June 13, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:33
LOCATION: Zagreb
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Berlaymont building, Zagreb and EVs-related footage
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HRVOJE PRPIC, President of Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association
3. various of Zagreb and EVs-related footage
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HRVOJE PRPIC, President of Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association

STORYLINE:

The European Commission on Wednesday revealed a list of protectionist duties it would levy on imports of battery electric vehicles (EVs) from China.

The provisional duties conceived by the Commission would range from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Hrvoje Prpic, president of the Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association, said the high tariffs would fail to help European industry keep up with Chinese car manufacturers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HRVOJE PRPIC, President of Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association
"Even if the EU introduced high tariffs for electric vehicles, it won't help European industry to keep up (with) the pace of Chinese car manufacturers. And of course, the end user will pay that extra 30 percent.
That means that we will all pay 30 percent more because European Union car manufacturers will definitely adapt to this new 30 percent extra margin. So, yeah, it's definitely not good for the whole market."

Noting China's world-leading EV technology, Prpic said the EU should enhance its focus on the scientific aspects of battery production to narrow the gap.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HRVOJE PRPIC, President of Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association
"Well, I have to admit that Chinese technology is now much more advanced than not just European, but also American (technology). These LFP batteries, which Chinese manufacturers really produce and make, are definitely better than what we have now in the European Union and the United States. And the European Union should definitely increase the scientific part of producing batteries that we can make better batteries and cheaper batteries."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zagreb.
(XHTV)