Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the European Union should rethink its plan to impose additional tariffs of up to 36% on Chinese-made electric vehicles, saying the bloc doesn’t need a trade war with Beijing.

Beating competitors on price, China’s electric vehicles have made headway in Europe – but tariffs and trade scrutiny may slow their advance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to play a "constructive role" in improving strained ties between Bejing and the European Union.