European Union officials say the duties are meant to protect the region’s automakers from what they say are unfair trade practices in China.

Despite opposition from Germany, the European Union will start imposing tariffs as high as 45 percent on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Elon Musk’s marque takes the smallest hit.

The European Union unleashed one of its most powerful economic tools on China, imposing tariffs on electric vehicles in a move that increases the risk of retaliatory measures and backfiring on domestic consumers and companies.