The World Trade Organization received a complaint from the authorities in Beijing due to the additional customs duties of the European Union for electric vehicles produced in China.

China's Ministry of Commerce, according to its own words, wants to protect the development interests of the electric vehicle industry with the complaint and considers the high tariffs of the European Union to be an example of trade protectionism, reports Bloomberg.

"China believes that the EU's final decision on anti-subsidy measures has no factual and legal basis, that it violates the rules of the World Trade Organization and is an abuse of trade remedies," the Chinese ministry spokesman said in a statement.

Official Beijing called on the European Union to "face its mistakes and immediately correct its illegal practices."

The European Commission decided, after several months of investigation and negotiations with the Chinese side, to introduce tariffs for the import of electric vehicles manufactured in China, which came into effect on October 31 and will be valid for the next five years, the media reports.