They're to protect Europe's car manufacturing industry, which is a significant industry which directly and indirectly employs a lot of people and circulates a lot of money. Part of that industry is green technology, which is exactly what Europe needs to build up. Europe has a challenge in that it wants to keep local manufacturing industries but also make sure that they are environmentally and socially responsible, which costs a lot more than other countries without those concerns and cheaper costs. I'm no fan of the ridiculous trade wars but totally free trade hasn't proved to be an outright success. I know the playing fields aren't level but I don't know what the sensible middle ground solution is.