BMW AG is pressing Berlin to vote against imposing significantly higher European Union tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, joining other German carmakers that don’t want to risk a spat with their most important market.

France, Greece, Italy and Poland will vote on Friday for tariffs of up to 45% on imports of electric vehicles (EVs) made in China, officials and sources said, enough to get the European Union proposal passed in a move likely to increase trade tensions with Beijing.

The proposal for tariffs of up to 45 percent is up for a vote Oct. 4. Germany plans to abstain, while France, Greece, Italy and Poland plan to vote in favor.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he expects negotiations with China to settle a dispute over the EU's threatened punitive tariffs on imported Chinese electric cars. "Of course we have to protect our economy from unfair trade practices,

(Reuters) - The European Union is planning to vote on whether to introduce tariffs as high as 45% on imported electric vehicles made in China on Oct. 4, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Volkswagen on Wednesday urged Germany to vote against the introduction of European Union tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that the tariffs do not improve the competitiveness of the auto industry.

Germany's influential auto-industry lobby urged the German government on Wednesday to oppose proposed punitive EU tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles. A vote on the tariffs by EU countries is scheduled for Friday,

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he expects negotiations with China to settle a dispute over the EU's threatened punitive tariffs on imported Chinese electric cars. "Of course we have to protect our economy from unfair trade practices,

Additional tariffs harm globally active companies in this country and could provoke a trade dispute from which no one gains,” BMW chief executive officer Oliver Zipse said on Wednesday, as per the report.