European Union officials say the duties are meant to protect the region’s automakers from what they say are unfair trade practices in China.

EV tariffs won’t tackle China’s growing clout in hybrid vehicles and critical batteries, or stop trade tensions spreading to other theatres.

The European Union voted to impose more tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), risking further retaliation from Beijing, which in August launched an anti-subsidy investigation into EU dairy imports.