On Thursday 29 August, China announced the provisional results of its anti-dumping investigation into European spirits (see EUROPE 13325/19): these imports from the EU constitute dumping for local producers, as well as a threat of material injury, according to Beijing. However, the Chinese Ministry of Trade has announced that it is not imposing provisional anti-dumping tariffs at this stage.
The investigation is continuing with a view to its final conclusion in a few months' time, probably at the end of 2024. Anti-dumping investigations must be concluded within twelve months, according to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and the Chinese investigation was opened in January 2024.
“According to the European Commission’s detailed assessment, the merits of the investigation are questionable”, commented Olof Gill, the European Commission’s spokesman on trade issues, on Thursday 29 August. The EU believes that its exports are fully compatible with WTO rules. It will not hesitate “to take all necessary action to defend its exporters”, he said.
“If applied, these tariffs would constitute an unjustified market access barrier and have a detrimental impact on EU exports of wine-based and marc-based spirits to China”, said Ulrich Adam, Director General of SpiritsEUROPE.
The fact that Beijing has not imposed provisional tariffs despite the finding of dumping may be interpreted as a signal to the European Commission, which is due to conclude its own investigation into Chinese electric vehicles by early November. It currently plans to impose tariffs of up to 36.3% (see EUROPE 13466/2). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)