Jose Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission, has emphasized the need for dialogue and cooperation between China and the European Union (EU) to avoid a potential trade war following an EU vote to impose tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles.

The EU has voted to press ahead with hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, laying the ground for what may become a trade war between two of the world's biggest economic regions. The proposed “definitive countervailing duties” – which are up to 45 per cent,

European Union countries failed to vote clearly in favour or against tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles, leaving the European Commission to decide what to do, EU sources said on Friday.

European Union member countries agreed Friday to proceed with the imposition of tarrifs on Chinese electric vehicles exactly one year after launching a probe into whether Beijing was subsidizing its domestic EV industry.

The EU has authorized tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese electric vehicles due to unfair state aid, effective for five years, despite opposition from Germany. This decision aims to protect the EU automotive sector but risks escalating trade tensions with China.