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Brussels – This investigation, announced shortly after Brussels’ announcement of a surcharge on Chinese electric vehicles, concerns products such as fresh cheese and curd, blue cheese as well as certain milks and creams.
“The Commission will firmly defend the interests of our dairy industry and our common agricultural policy,” said an institution spokesperson, Olof Gil, assuring that “all necessary measures would be taken to ensure that this investigation fully complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.”
The procedure is supposed to last one year and may be extended by six months. China may then decide to impose surcharges on these products to protect its market if it demonstrates that the EU’s practices are unfair and harmful to competition.
Beijing had already announced in January that it was investigating an alleged infraction concerning the competition of wine brandies, such as cognac, imported from the EU, particularly from France, which had given impetus to the Brussels investigation.
In June, it also launched an anti-dumping investigation on the imports of pork and pork products from the European Union, goods mainly produced in Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
Last year, the EU exported 1.68 billion euros worth of dairy products to China, according to Eurostat data cited by the European Commission.
China brought the issue of surcharges on Chinese electric vehicles to the WTO at the beginning of the month. (22/08/2024)