EU countries on Friday gave a definitive green light to hefty additional tariffs on electric cars made in China, despite strong opposition led by Germany and fears it will spark a trade war with Beijing.

The European Union will press ahead with hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, the EU executive said on Friday, even after the bloc's largest economy Germany rejected them, exposing a rift over its biggest trade row with Beijing in a decade.

The European Union unleashed one of its most powerful economic tools on China, imposing tariffs on electric vehicles in a move that increases the risk of retaliatory measures and backfiring on domestic consumers and companies.

The EU's decision to impose far higher tariffs on imported Chinese EVs seeks to safeguard European automakers — but could prompt Beijing to retaliate.

The European Union backed tariffs of up to 45% on imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) on Friday as it looks to counter Beijing's subsidies for automakers now targeting Europe. Here is political a

The bloc approved tariffs of up to 45% on EVs made in China, defying pleas from some European auto executives who fear retaliation from Beijing.

The move to introduce tariffs aims to protect the European car industry from being undermined by what EU politicians believe are unfair Chinese-state subsidies on its own cars. Charges of up to 45% are to be enforced on electric cars made in China for the next five years,