MNI BRIEF: Draghi Calls For Tariffs, Subsidies Against China
The former ECB chief says Europe must protect itself against Chinese competition.
The European Union will have to use subsidies and tariffs to protect its industries from Chinese and other global competitors, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on a speech on Friday, giving advance details of his long-awaited report to be unveiled in mid- July.
While the EU should try to persuade other governments around the world to recommit to multilateral trade rules, it should also turn to "subsidies and tariffs to offset unfair advantages created by industrial policies and real exchange rate devaluations abroad", Draghi said referring to challenges from Chinese competition in sectors such as EVs and solar panels. (See MNI: Watered-Down EU Deal Points To Resistance To Draghi Plan)
Draghi's comments follow the European Commission's announcement that it would impose a preliminary average 21% weighted tariff on imports of Chinese EVs following an investigation into subsidies.