The trade standoff is getting tougher. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday, August 21, that it was opening “an anti-dumping investigation into certain dairy products imported from the European Union.” Fresh cheese, blue cheese, curdled milk and other milk and cream products are in the crosshairs, because their manufacturers benefit from subsidies granted under the Common Agricultural Policy, according to the Chinese ministry.
This announcement comes in a context of tensions between Beijing and Brussels. The day before, the European Union said it was considering surtaxes on imports of Chinese electric cars for the next five years. Brussels fears for the competitiveness of its automobile industry, which is competing with Chinese models, whose prices are considered artificially low due to state subsidies.
Beijing had repeatedly threatened the EU with reprisals if it carried out this project. In January, China had already announced that it was investigating an alleged infringement of competition in wine spirits imported in particular from France, such as cognac, before targeting, via another procedure, imports of pork products.
This article is originally published on francetvinfo.fr
