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# Chinese EV tariffs on the way for the UK
- URL: https://torquecafe.com/chinese-ev-tariffs-on-the-way-for-the-uk/
- Published: 2026-10-06T00:20:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T00:20:45.000Z
- Description: The United Kingdom is reportedly eyeing up placing tariffs on electric vehicles from Chinese brands, following the European Union’s lead.
- Author: Jordan Mulach
- Tags: News, Electric

A boom in sales of electric vehicles from China in the UK may spark the nation imposing tariffs on the zero-tailpipe emission cars, something already implemented close by.

As reported by [*The Times*](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/britain-china-tariffs-evs-electric-vehicles-228thpkp6?ref=torquecafe.com), the UK Government is currently planning to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, based on claims that vehicles from the nation are being state-subsidised to massively undercut the prices of ‘legacy’ brands.

According to the publication, the tariffs would form a part of a response to concerns from the European Union that the UK’s lack of existing import charges on Chinese EVs have exposed the wider region to becoming a “backdoor” for Chinese cars to be imported.

If the UK doesn’t impose the tariffs, the European Union may not include it in its proposed ‘Made in Europe’ scheme, potentially delivering devastating consequences to British car brands operating in the region.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/2026/10/BYD_Seal__099-1.jpg)

In a statement to *The Times*, a UK Government spokesperson said “we have not put tariffs on Chinese EVs. We continue to engage closely with industry so that our approach reflects the sector’s and UK’s national interests.”

While the UK mulls introducing the tariffs, such taxes have been in place in Europe for almost two years, with different brands slugged with varying levels of charges, based on their amount of state-backed input and cooperation with European lawmakers.

On top of the base 10 per cent import duty on vehicles in the EU, BYD’s cars are hit with a 17 per cent tariff, rising to 18.8 per cent for Geely and 35.3 per cent for SAIC.

Last month, [Nikkei Asia](https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/china-warns-its-ev-makers-against-launching-price-wars-abroad?ref=torquecafe.com) reported the Chinese government had released a four-chapter “Guidelines on Overseas Competition and Compliance Construction”, a reference document for car manufacturers operating in export markets.

According to the publication, the guidelines – published by the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology – are aimed at improving the image of Chinese vehicles in overseas markets, through outlining strategies to minimise disruption.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/2026/10/100226_MG4_Static_29--2-.jpg)

“This guideline is formulated to promote the healthy and orderly international development of China's automotive industry, guide automotive companies to regulate their overseas competitive behavior, strengthen compliance, improve their transnational operating capabilities and international influence, and promote the development and progress of the global automotive industry,” it opens with.

One of the most important parts of the guidelines is in chapter two (regulating competition in overseas markets), where the government calls for companies to not only “establish a pricing strategy based on cost and guided by international market supply and demand”, but also “not disrupt market competition order in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage”.

“When setting the suggested retail price of a vehicle in an overseas market, the enterprise shall, in accordance with the laws and regulations, market principles and business practices of the host country (region), set a clear price gradient for different vehicle configurations of the enterprise, so as to avoid the impact on the interests of overseas consumers and the brand image due to frequent and large-scale price fluctuations,” it adds.

This section in particular has become relevant in the recent past, given the impact that Chinese brands have had on traditional ‘legacy’ manufacturers, leading the latter to adjust their own prices in a bid to remain competitive.

[China’s carmakers read the riot act to not start price warsThe ever-growing list of Chinese car brands will have to adhere to guidelines laid out by the nation’s government, effectively calling for a fair fight.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/icon/cropped-favicon-85d6b808-28b8-4e8c-aa06-de339bcb0dc9.png)Torquecafe.comJordan Mulach![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/thumbnail/BYD_Denza_Zhengzhou_0109-a95ff633-b6b3-4471-84fb-3e57d21f133f.jpg)](https://torquecafe.com/car-news-2026-china-car-guidelines-published/)

As previously reported, China is now the leading source of vehicle imports to Australia, this year overtaking Japan and Thailand to lead the way.

In July last year, a report by the Centre for International Economics (CIE) - commissioned by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) - forecast that Chinese vehicles could account for 43 per cent of all deliveries in Australia in 2035.

In August 2026, 40.3 per cent of new vehicles were imported from China (43,882 total), well clear of second-placed Japan (24,892, 22.9 per cent) and Thailand (15,658, 14.4 per cent).