"China is not in agreement and does not accept the decision and has submitted a formal complaint in accordance with the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement mechanism", says a spokesperson for the Chinese trade department in a statement.
The spokesperson adds that China hopes for a quick solution to "avoid an escalation in trade friction".
The statement comes after the EU announced its tariff decision on Tuesday following the failure of Brussels and Beijing to find a solution to the issue.
The EU has justified the tariffs on Chinese electric cars by stating that China subsidizes its car manufacturers, giving them a competitive advantage over European car manufacturers.
China has threatened the EU with countermeasures targeting European goods, such as agricultural products and heavy trucks.
According to the EU Commission, the sales of Chinese-made electric cars increased from 3.9 percent of the electric car market in 2020 to 25 percent in September 2023.
