The European Union has followed through on its threat to impose heavy tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China, raising the prospect of Chinese retaliation.

First blood. The European Union has got its electric vehicle tariffs through. On Friday, member states voted for levies on battery cars imported from the Middle Kingdom. Given big EU hitters like Germany opposed the move,

The EU has voted to press ahead with hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, laying the ground for what may become a trade war between two of the world's biggest economic regions. The proposed “definitive countervailing duties” – which are up to 45 per cent,