Italian Auto Suppliers Association Calls for 80% Tariff on Excess Chinese-Made Vehicles and Parts

On September 10, Roberto Vavassori, President of the Italian Automotive Suppliers Association (Anfia), called in an interview for the EU to apply zero tariffs on Chinese imported vehicles up to 8% of the EU’s annual new car registrations, with an 80% tariff imposed on volumes exceeding this threshold. He stated that this tariff mechanism should cover both complete vehicles and components, noting that components account for approximately 80% of a vehicle's value. According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), Chinese-brand vehicles accounted for more than 9% of EU market sales in the first half of 2026. Vavassori revealed that Italian automotive suppliers exported €4.9 billion (approximately RMB 38.302 billion) worth of goods to Germany in 2025, with Volkswagen accounting for 20% of that total. He noted that due to declining European vehicle production, Italian auto parts exports fell by 4.6% in the first half of 2026, and are expected to decline by around 10% for the full year. He warned that without protective measures against Chinese imports, Italian auto parts exports could drop by 40% to 50% by 2028. Currently, the EU imposes additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles on top of the standard 10% import duty, resulting in combined tariff rates ranging from 18% to 45%, depending on the manufacturer. This measure, introduced in 2024, has a five-year validity period. Vavassori added that automakers such as BYD and Chery have relocated production to Europe but show little willingness to source locally, continuing instead to import the majority of their components from China or low-cost countries near Europe.