Expert: China can hit back against EU tariffs

China is likely to take "ample" countermeasures against European Commission's latest tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles if the two sides fail to sort out the dispute, said a commerce ministry expert.

The comments came as the European Commission notified carmakers on Wednesday that it would apply additional duties of up to 38.1 percent on imported Chinese electric vehicles from next month.

Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is under the Ministry of Commerce, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily that China can take "ample" countermeasure tools against Europe.

He said: "The trade imbalance between China and the EU is not as pronounced as that between China and the United States. The EU should think twice before such measures being put into real effect next month."

"If China chooses to beat back, it will not be easy for any market. Cars are not chips and China can live without Europe in terms of car development," he said.

Similar to tariff this time, the EU started anti-dumping investigations into solar panels from China and an anti-subsidy investigation into the same products in 2012. The two markets settled the dispute later by limiting both price and quantity.

However, Bai said the two markets are unlikely to solve the latest NEV dispute like that of solar panels.

"The times are different, and European citizens have shifted their perception of China now. The two sides lack foundation in reaching such a consensus," he added.