Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that the European Union is is headed for an "economic cold war" with China, reported the Reuters agency, quoted by News.bg.
On October 4, EU members will vote on whether to impose tariffs for the next five years of up to 45% on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles.
After abstaining from the first non-binding vote on the proposal in July, Germany, Hungary's main trading partner and the EU's largest economy, is expected to vote against the introduction of EU tariffs.
Orbán, who is leading a drive in Central Europe to attract Chinese electric car and battery factories to Hungary, stressed that his country does not want to be squeezed into either bloc and wants to continue trading and with both sides.
He noted that products made in the EU will be increasingly difficult to sell if the world economy splits into two blocs. According to him, it is not clear whether Hungary can successfully pursue its strategy of "economic neutrality" in such a position.