>shitty thing if Germany forced the EU to slap tarrifs on imported chinese cars

That's not going to happen. The German industry itself doesn't support protectionism because virtually all carmakers are heavily invested in the Chinese market both for its consumers and for manufacturing.

Audi last year alone invested 3 billion in a new factory in Changchun[1] together with FAW. Anti-subsidy investigations from the EU are not going to result in any major trade issues.

[1]https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/cornersto...