By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-05 08:34:13 | Updated at 2026-10-05 09:05:47
1 hour ago
The UK is considering implementing tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles, according to fresh reports.
Claims from The Times suggest that the Government is looking to impose tariffs on Chinese electric cars amid fears they are "flooding the market".
Several car brands from China have entered the UK market in recent years and have seen a huge jump in sales thanks to low prices and impressive technology.
Despite this, reports now suggest that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is set to introduce a package of potential tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports.
Chinese manufacturers have been accused of "dumping" subsidised vehicles into Britain and Europe, prompting calls for additional tariffs.
The European Union has introduced significant tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles to protect European legacy manufacturers.
Many long-standing automakers have struggled with the influx of cheaper Chinese cars entering the market as they struggle to compete with changing consumer habits.
Speaking to GB News, a Government spokesperson said: "We always put trade measures in place independently and based only on the UK’s economic interests and those of industry.
Reports suggest that the UK Government is considering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles
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"However, Europe and the UK face many of the same challenges, which is why it is vital we protect trade flows between us.
"We want to explore deeper cooperation with the EU to unlock opportunities for industry and strengthen economic growth, while avoiding collateral damage in our shared ambition of tackling unfair trading practices globally."
The Times reported that the UK was set to match the EU's 45 per cent tariff on Chinese electric cars in a bid to move closer to the bloc.
This could help the UK avoid sanctions from "Made in Europe" proposals, which aim to promote and incentivise the sale of European-produced parts and vehicles.
Several Chinese car brands, including BYD, have taken the UK market by storm in recent years
The UK remains excluded from these policy measures, which would result in additional costs for UK-made products to be exported to the EU.
Without intervention, tougher Made in Europe and Rules of Origin requirements would impact both the UK and EU, with additional tariffs adding extra costs of at least £1.4billion.
Ministers have reportedly suggested that any decisions on tariffs should be based on national interest, rather than automatically following the lead of other organisations.
Chinese car brands have dominated UK sales recently, with preliminary data showing that the Jaecoo 7 was the best-selling vehicle in September, registering almost 11,000 models.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that several Chinese vehicles were included in last month's 10 best-selling electric cars list.
This includes the BYD Sealion 7 (3,191 sales) in third place, the BYD Seal (3,184 sales) in fourth and the Leapmotor B10 (1,883 sales) in tenth position.
Chinese car brands also captured large swathes of the overall market share in September, including BYD (5.75 per cent), Jaecoo (4.3 per cent), Chery (2.79 per cent), and Omoda (2.07 per cent).
