Beijing, Dec 25: China will impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on dairy products imported from the European Union, the latest in a series of measures against EU exports widely seen as retaliation for the bloc’s electric vehicle tariffs.The duties, to be collected from Tuesday, will range from 21.9% to 42.7%, although most companies will pay just under 30%. They target unsweetened milk and cream and fresh and processed cheeses, including the iconic French Roquefort and Camembert.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said it had found evidence that EU dairy imports were subsidised and hurting Chinese producers.
The European Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, said the investigation was based on “questionable allegations and insufficient evidence” and called the measures “unjustified and unwarranted”.
Monday’s decision is provisional and could be revised when a final ruling is made. China significantly lowered provisional tariffs on pork in its final decision last week.
Trade tensions with the EU erupted in 2023 when the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-made electric vehicles. It imposed tariffs in October 2024.