Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBMW and the EU are discussing a minimum import price that could replace tariffs on China-made Mini Cooper and Aceman EVs. A similar deal freed VW’s Cupra Tavascan from duties on Feb 10, 2026; BMW’s current rate is 20.7%.
BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - BMW and the European Commission are in talks about a possible minimum pricing model that could replace EU tariffs on the German carmaker's Chinese-made Mini electric vehicles, Germany's Handelsblatt business daily reported on Tuesday.
This follows an agreement struck between Brussels and Volkswagen earlier in February, under which the group's SEAT/Cupra brand secured a tariff exemption for its all-electric Tavascan SUV coupe following months of discussions.
Similar deals could follow, with Chinese carmakers also thought to be eyeing exemptions for their EU-bound EVs.
BMW and Brussels are negotiating a solution involving a minimum import price, Handelsblatt reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.
A BMW spokesperson declined to comment on the report.
The European Commission had no immediate comment.
BMW is separately challenging the EU tariffs in a legal case with other carmakers.
The EU imposed tariffs on China-made EVs at the end of October 2024 after an anti-subsidy investigation. The rate for BMW, which manufactures the electric Mini Cooper and electric Mini Aceman in China, is 20.7%.
(Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in BrusselsReporting by Rachel More and Christina AmannEditing by Madeline Chambers)
BMW and the European Commission are negotiating a minimum import price that could replace EU tariffs on China-made Mini electric vehicles such as the Cooper and Aceman.
On Feb 10, 2026, the EU accepted a price undertaking for Volkswagen’s China-made Cupra Tavascan, allowing tariff-free imports at or above a set minimum price.
BMW’s China-made Mini EVs currently face a 20.7% countervailing duty imposed after the EU’s 2024 anti-subsidy investigation, in addition to the base import tariff.
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