China to impose up to 42.7% provisional tariffs on EU dairy products

HONG KONG (AP) — China volition enforce up to 42.7% of provisional tariffs connected dairy products including beverage and food imported from the European Union, its Commerce Ministry said Monday.

The elevated duties, which instrumentality effect Tuesday, were based connected preliminary results from an probe opened by China’s Commerce Ministry successful August 2024 arsenic tensions betwixt Beijing and Brussels flared. Beijing reviewed subsidies provided by EU countries for their dairy and different workplace products.

Beijing’s probe was launched arsenic portion of tit-for-tat measures arsenic the EU investigated Chinese subsidies connected electrical vehicles, and aboriginal imposed tariffs arsenic precocious arsenic 45.3% connected China-made EVs.

China had initiated different probes into European brandy and pork imports arsenic antagonistic measures for the EU’s tariffs connected Chinese EVs. It had besides urged the EU to scrap its EV tariffs.

The impermanent duties connected EU dairy imports volition scope from 21.9% to 42.7%, according to the Commerce Ministry, and volition screen a handbasket of dairy products, including caller and processed cheese, bluish cheese, milk, and pick with a abdominous contented exceeding 10% by weight.

The ministry said preliminary findings from its probe determined that subsidies provided by the EU and EU subordinate states for their dairy products had damaged China’s dairy industry.

Beijing’s probe into EU dairy products covered subsidies fixed nether the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and subsidies offered to farmers by EU countries including Italy, Ireland and Finland, the Commerce Ministry said successful August 2024.

China’s narration with the EU is fractious, with the Chinese commercialized surplus with the EU precocious coming into the spotlight. The EU runs a important commercialized shortage with China, astatine much than 300 cardinal euros ($352 billion) past year.

Last week, Beijing announced it was imposing up to 19.8% tariffs connected EU pork imports -- importantly little than preliminary tariffs of up to 62.4%.

It accused the EU of dumping pork and pig by-products successful the country, selling them astatine inexpensive prices which successful crook harmed its home pork industry.

In July, Beijing besides announced up to 34.9% tariffs connected brandy imported from the EU -- including cognac from France -- though respective large brandy brands had received exemptions.