It means officials in Northern Ireland are forced to slap an eye-watering 45 percent tariff on imports of Chinese EVs.
This will not apply to motorists in England, Wales and Scotland who will be able to secure the latest Chinese cars for a lot cheaper.
This is because the European Union has decided to issue hefty tariffs on Chinese-built models which will come into effect on October 31.
Meanwhile, as an independent country, the UK has taken the decision not to issue expensive tariffs at this stage with a smaller 10 percent fee on imports.
It is understood the policy came into fruition as part of the Windsor Framework which was agreed by Rishi Sunak last year.
Although the import charges will be felt by Chinese carmakers, these fees are likely to be passed onto consumers across the EU.
Lord Nigel Dodds, a member of the DUP, a pro-Unionist party, suggested the move would hit road users across the country.
According to The Telegraph, he said: “The electric car border being inflicted on Northern Ireland will increase costs for drivers here.
“Lamentably, under the dire Windsor Framework, lawmakers in this so-called sovereign United Kingdom are powerless to prevent it.”
Chinese electric cars could revolutionise the EV industry with many brand-new models sold at budget prices.
The BYD Seagull could soon be available for just £8,000 while a new MG ZS EV will set motorists back just £18,000.
In comparison, the average cost of buying a brand-new EV in the UK is around the £46,000 mark.
It may be possible for road users to “claim back” duty if they can prove machines have remained in Northern Ireland.
A Government spokesperson said: “While EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles do apply when goods enter Northern Ireland, if the vehicle is sold in Northern Ireland then businesses can claim back the full amount.
“We are in contact with the small number of businesses this affects to help them understand their options and ensure there is no impact to consumers.”
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Publish date : 2024-10-15 02:14:00
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