Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Brussels – The European Commission on Monday announced it was challenging provisional Chinese tariffs on imports of EU brandy at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Beijing is acting on insufficient evidence and China has not proven that EU imports threaten the Chinese brandy industry, the Brussels authority said.
China imposed the punitive measures on European brandy in the wake of the European Union’s tariffs on the import of electric cars from China. Beijing criticized the EU move on electric vehicles as protectionist and said that Brussels was in violation of WTO rules.
Investigations on both sides
Trade relations have been worsening between China and the EU as economic competition and political tensions grow between both sides.
In July, Beijing started an investigation into EU pork products. Anti-subsidy investigations are also ongoing for certain imports of European dairy goods. Brussels meanwhile has used new powers to investigate Chinese companies for evidence of unfair state subsidies in their bids for public tenders on projects in the EU.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the WTO challenge shows that the EU executive arm will protect the European economy “from unfounded accusations and misuse of trade defence measures.”
According to the Commission, China has 10 days to respond to the formal WTO challenge to find a time and format for consultations on the brandy tariffs. Should no suitable time and format be decided, a WTO panel may decide on the issue. (November 11)
The editorial responsibility for the publication lies with dpa.