Japan keeps distance from Europe and the United States on the issue of electric vehicle tariffs and takes a cautious attitude towards China's policies

News on June 17, according to Nikkei Today, Europe has recently raised the issue of imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. However, Japan has chosen to keep a certain distance from Europe and the United States on this issue, and actively explores cutting-edge energy fields. An independent development path that is not dependent on a specific country.

According to the report, it was emphasized that there are significant differences between Japan and Europe and the United States in treating the sales of Chinese electric vehicles. Currently, electric vehicles account for only 2% of new car sales in Japan, which is much lower than in China, the United States and Europe. In this regard, officials from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that it has not yet reached the level where it is necessary to sue the country's industrial losses. This shows that Japan has maintained a relatively calm and prudent attitude in the competitive landscape of the electric vehicle market.

At the same time, another Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry official also pointed out that Japan cannot turn a blind eye to China's "excess production capacity." This implies that although Japan is not currently directly affected by China's electric vehicles, it still needs to be wary of possible competitive pressures in the future. In addition, the official also mentioned that Japan and China may have intertwined interests in renewable energy fields such as solar and wind energy, which are indispensable for decarbonization. This further shows that Japan seeks independent development in the energy field while not rejecting cooperation and competition with China.

Naotaka Hatada, a senior economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers consulting firm, expressed concern about Europe's move to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. He believes that raising tariffs will easily lead to retaliation from the other country, which will lead to an escalation of the situation. At the same time, he also questioned the practice of raising tariffs to protect Japanese industries. This view reflects Japan's cautious approach to trade policy and concerns about a potential trade war.

According to the latest data, as of now, China's electric vehicle penetration rate has reached 22.2% in 2023, much higher than South Korea's 9.3%, the United States' 7.2%, and Japan's 2.9%. This data comparison further highlights Japan's relatively lagging position in the electric vehicle market, but it also provides Japan with development potential and market space.

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