China said it may raise tariffs on imported internal-combustion-engine cars with large engines sizes, after the European Union voted to increase import duties on China-made electric vehicles.

"We cannot imagine that we will stop anything by imposing tariffs," said Jean Philippe Imparato from Stellantis, when asked about tariffs on Chinese cars. The EU countries have agreed to impose them.

European Union member states have narrowly backed import duties on Chinese-made electric cars, over what the EU considers to be unfair competition. Tariffs of up to 45 percent are set to be imposed

Beijing’s action came days after European nations moved toward tariffs on electric vehicles from China, and it included a threat to also hit pork and car imports.

Chinese manufacturers are attending in force, despite European Union threats to punitively tax imports of their electric vehicles in a brewing trade war with Beijing. Long-established European manufacturers are fighting back with new efforts to win consumers who have balked at high-priced EVs.

When questioned about tariffs on Chinese cars, Jean Philippe Imparato of Stellantis expressed skepticism, suggesting that imposing tariffs wouldn't necessarily prevent any outcomes. Meanwhile, EU countries have collectively decided to implement these tariffs.