Brussels, 22/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht remains confident of resolving the dispute over European wine amicably. The Chinese investigation will not finish until spring 2014.
The consultations between Chinese and European wine producers, which were promised by China in order to find a negotiated solution as part of its anti-dumping investigation into European wine, began the day before the EU-China summit on 21 November. This Chinese anti-dumping investigation was launched at the beginning of the summer (see EUROPE 10878) before the settlement on the solar panels issue (see EUROPE 10899). Represented by CEEV (European committee of wine companies), European wine companies had an initial discussion with their Chinese counterparts when they met at the China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA) in Beijing on 19 November. This first meeting enabled the two sides to take the pulse and to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the world market.
On the sidelines of the Beijing summit, De Gucht believed the prospects for an amicable settlement to this dispute were “good”. “It's not an impossible case to resolve”, he said, believing that “it will be extremely difficult for the Chinese to demonstrate that there has been dumping”.
The investigation into the production and financing conditions for European wine sold in China is due to end in April 2014 with the possible establishment of provisional duties and then possibly definitive duties two months later. The Chinese investigation targets around 15 different subsidies in the European wine-producing industry - including national arrangements under the rural development policy, promotion programmes in third countries, and subsidies for wine cellars. (EH/transl.fl)