China Imposes Tariffs on EU Dairy Products

China has announced new tariffs of up to 11.7 percent on dairy products imported from the European Union, escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that the duties will take effect on February 13, following the conclusion of an anti-subsidy investigation that lasted around 18 months. The probe found that certain European dairy products, allegedly supported by EU government subsidies, had caused harm to Chinese farmers and domestic producers.

The new tariffs will primarily target milk and cheese imports from major European exporters, including France, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which account for a significant share of dairy shipments to the Chinese market.

In a statement, the ministry said the measures are intended to protect China’s domestic dairy industry from the negative impact of what it described as artificially low-priced, subsidized imports that distort fair competition.

The move comes amid mounting trade friction between China and the European Union. Brussels recently imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, prompting Beijing to consider retaliatory steps, including higher duties on selected European goods.

In a further development, China signaled that additional countermeasures could target products such as French wine if Paris proceeds with plans to impose new tariffs on Chinese exports.

The dispute underscores widening economic tensions between the two sides as trade policy becomes an increasingly prominent element of their bilateral relationship.