Burnham is expected to raise Chinese electric car tariffs with EU to unlock closer ties with Europe

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly expected to discuss raising tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to 45 per cent when he meets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The move is seen as a prerequisite for deeper EU alignment, with Brussels insisting the UK must match its trade barriers before British-made cars can qualify for European incentive schemes. Burnham met Merz ahead of a UK-EU summit planned for next month.

Chinese brands now command over 12 per cent of the UK market, with the Jaecoo 7 topping UK sales charts in September with nearly 11,000 units sold.

The tariff dilemma cuts both ways — raising them risks souring relations with China, a critical export market for British brands including the new Jaguar Type 01.

The EU's 45 per cent levy hits hardest on state-owned Chinese makers like SAIC, parent of MG, which faces the full rate after refusing to cooperate with Brussels's anti-subsidy probe.