Germany is leading a European push to accept a British request for a delay to tariffs on electric vehicle sales between the UK and the EU, as industry warned the duties would cost billions of euros and reduce the workforce.

Member state diplomats discussed the UK request for a three-year postponement, which are set to come into force in January, for the first time on Monday. Berlin received some support from other countries, said three people briefed about the meeting, but France and the European Commission, which must oversee the enactment of any tweak to the law, are holding out, officials said.

According to the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) tariffs of 10 per cent will be imposed on EVs shipped across the Channel if they have batteries made outside Europe or the UK. But carmakers based in the EU and UK say they are not ready to implement the ruling.