In the end, it was a close-run thing. On Friday afternoon, the European Union voted to impose punishing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, attempting to block them from the market, and buying time for European manufacturers to get their act together.

Germany has voted against an EU motion to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese EV vehicles, exposing huge schisms within the bloc between major member states.

European Union officials say the duties are meant to protect the region’s automakers from what they say are unfair trade practices in China.