China has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation, claiming that the European Union has unfairly imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on new electric vehicles made in China. 

On Monday, China's diplomatic mission to the WTO stated that it is strongly against the measures and that its action was taken to safeguard the electric vehicle sector and promote the global shift to greener technologies. Alleging that Chinese exports were unfairly undercutting EU industry prices, the European bloc announced last month that it would impose import duties of up to 35% on Chinese electric vehicles. 

Unless an amicable agreement can be reached, the duties are scheduled to remain in effect for five years. The impact of Chinese government subsidies on European markets and Beijing's growing exports of green technology to the bloc have made electric vehicles a major point of contention in a larger trade dispute. 

According to the mission statement, China claimed that the EU action amounted to protectionist measures and an abuse of trade remedies that was against WTO regulations. Last week, EU Commission executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis described the measures as targeted and proportionate, with the goal of bolstering the bloc's industrial base and promoting fair market practices.