The European Union’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles has moved the focus to how and when Beijing will retaliate for the escalation in its biggest trade dispute with the bloc in years.

Beijing has previously threatened tariffs on EU brandy imports and launched investigations into pork and dairy products in response to the tariffs

Volkswagen Chief Executive Oliver Blume would like an alternative to imposing tariffs of electric vehicles from China as he prepares for possible retaliation from Beijing, newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported.