On October 21, the China News Service reported that the National Market Regulation Administration (NMR) of China has recently convened market regulators from regions including Fujian, Ningxia, and Beijing to evaluate technical trade measures concerning electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and battery carbon footprints raised by the United States and the European Union. This initiative aims to leverage World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to amplify the voices of enterprises and protect their rights.

In May, the European Union announced new regulations related to the carbon footprint calculations and verification requirements for batteries, which are part of the EU’s new battery legislation. More recently, on September 9, the United States outlined proposed changes to the accessibility guidelines for electric vehicle charging stations, intending to revise the Federal Regulations to address accessibility issues.

The NMR highlighted that if these measures come into effect, they could adversely affect Chinese exports of electric vehicles to the EU and charging stations to the U.S.

As China’s automobile exports, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, have grown rapidly, the domestic new energy vehicle industry faces both significant development opportunities and a series of challenges due to technical trade barriers.

In response to the notifications from the U.S. and EU, the NMR is guiding local regulators in Fujian, Ningxia, and Beijing to adhere to the WTO’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. By thoroughly consulting with industry representatives such as CATL, XJ Electric, and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, as well as third-party organizations, the administration aims to provide constructive feedback on the scientific, rational, and operational aspects of these measures. The findings will be presented as a special trade concern at the upcoming 94th meeting of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Committee in November.