The European Union has asked China to voluntarily curb hybrid car exports to avert a trade war ahead of next month's EU‑China Trade and Investment Consultations in Beijing, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing insiders.
An EU official said the request aims to prevent deindustrialization, as European carmakers cut jobs amid an oversupply of cheaper Chinese models in Europe, the report said.
Brussels wants China to cap hybrid car sales at about 15% of the EU market, down from more than a third currently, and has also proposed restrictions on other products such as chemicals, the sources said.
A spokesperson from the European Commission declined to comment on the matter, while China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to' request for comment.
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