China will impose provisional tariffs on certain dairy products from the European Union starting December 23, 2025. The tariffs will range from 21.9% to 42.7%. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the decision on Monday, citing evidence that EU subsidies on dairy products have harmed China’s domestic industry.
The affected products include fresh and processed cheese, curd, blue cheese, and some milk and cream. These items are crucial to the EU dairy export market. China’s decision follows an anti-subsidy investigation, launched in August 2024 after a request from the Dairy Association of China.
The investigation revealed that EU subsidies led to unfair pricing, making it difficult for Chinese producers to compete. The Ministry of Commerce confirmed this link and decided to impose tariffs to protect domestic dairy farmers. These provisional tariffs will stay in effect until further reviews or final decisions are made.
This move intensifies trade tensions between China and the European Union, particularly over agricultural products. The tariffs may impact EU dairy exporters, especially those who rely on China as a key market. Chinese producers, however, may benefit from reduced competition.
China’s action highlights the ongoing issue of subsidies in international trade. It could set a precedent for addressing similar disputes in other sectors. The global community will closely monitor the developments, as they could influence future trade policies.
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