18/03/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday, 18 March, China – dissatisfied with the consultations held with the European Union at the World Trade Organization (WTO) – requested that a panel be established in the dispute it initiated over European countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles (see EUROPE 13517/26). This is the second step after consultations [take place] and before the panel rules. Beijing believes the European tariffs are unfounded, and it does not believe the European Commission can justify either its investigation or the findings of its investigation. During the Dispute Settlement Body’s next meeting, the EU will be able to veto the establishment of a panel, but if China repeats its request at the meeting after that, the EU will have to accept it. See the document that China distributed to WTO members: https://aeur.eu/f/fzz (LM)