German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that it would be wrong to shut out foreign competition and narrow the circle of trade partners, saying negotiations with China on electric vehicles must continue.

Berlin expects the move to be approved despite reports Chancellor Olaf Scholz went 'ballistic' in efforts to block it European Union member states are expected to confirm the imposition of punitive tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in a vote on Friday.

EU countries are expected to confirm Friday hefty tariffs on electric cars made in China, a move dividing the bloc as some states led by Germany fear sparking a trade war with Beijing.The bloc faces a difficult task as it tries to foster its clean tech industry and invest in the green transition without sparking a painful trade war with China.

By Andreas Rinke FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Germany on Friday will vote against the introduction of European Union tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The German government is set to vote against imposing European Union tariffs on electric vehicles from China, dpa learned on Thursday. EU countries are due to vote on Friday on the contested issue of additional tariffs of up to 35% for battery-powered electric vehicles imported from China.

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