The Chinese government will impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on some dairy products imported from the European Union (EU).
The move follows the conclusion of the first phase of an anti-subsidy investigation seen as retaliation for tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs).
Among the dairy products affected are milk and cheese, including the famous French blue cheese, Roquefort, with duties ranging from 21.9 to 42.7%.
According to a Reuters news report, most companies are expected to pay duties of around 30% with collection starting on Tuesday.
So far, the European Commission has not issued any official statement on the decision.
Chinese authorities have stressed that the implementation of these duties is temporary and is likely to be reviewed after a final decision is made.
Last week, China reduced provisional duties on pork imports, a move seen as a gradual easing of trade tensions.
Trade tensions between the EU and China date back to 2023 when the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-made EVs.
In response, Beijing has imposed tariffs on several EU products such as brandy, pork and now dairy products.
However, China has repeatedly reduced the impact of these tariffs, including granting partial exemptions to major brandy producers such as Pernod Ricard, LVMH and Remy Cointreau.
According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, negotiations on EV tariffs will resume this month.
However, no official announcement has been made so far after the negotiations were closed last week.
