Europe needs China as a “strategic partner” in helping build the bloc’s electric vehicle industry, a top Spanish official said, echoing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s position against EU plans to slap tariffs on Chinese cars.

The European Commission is on the verge of proposing final tariffs of up to 35.3 per cent on EVs built in China, on top of the EU’s standard 10 per cent car import duty. Mr Wang is visiting Europe for talks on the EU’s anti-subsidy case against Chinese-made EVs ahead of a vote on more tariffs.

Brussels and Beijing have agreed to take a new look at price undertakings, which could avoid extra tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.