German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's rejection of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles failed to stop fellow European Union members voting in favour, exposing how a divided Berlin is struggling to drive EU policy.

China is investigating whether to raise tariffs on European large-engine vehicles and will start collecting levies on brandy, escalating a trade spat after the European Union decided to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

The EU conformed its decision to raise tariffs on Chinese EVs, leading to worries this might raise trade tensions.