On Monday 22 December, the European Commission noted with “concern” the announcement made the same day by China to impose provisional countervailing duties on imports of dairy products from the EU.
Beijing’s investigation is based on “questionable allegations and insufficient evidence” and the measures are “unjustified and unwarranted”, commented the spokesman Olof Gill.
The Commission is currently examining the preliminary determination, and will provide comments to the Chinese authorities, he added, as China is due to conclude its investigation with a view to the possible imposition of definitive measures, if any, on 21 February.
On 22 December, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced provisional customs duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7%, with effect from 23 December. The additional customs duties apply to a whole range of products, including fresh and processed cheeses, blue cheeses and certain milks and creams, which Beijing claims are unfairly subsidised by Chinese competitors.
“We are doing everything it takes to defend EU farmers and exporters, as well as the Common Agricultural Policy, against China’s unfair use of trade defence instruments”, explained Olof Gill.
The Commission already lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization against China’s initiation of this investigation into dairy products in August 2024.
The Commission views this announcement “as a very negative development”.
Last week, China had already announced that it was imposing anti-dumping duties ranging from 4.9% to 19.8% on pork and pork by-products imported from the EU for five years, according to AFP. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)