China will start collecting provisional anti-subsidy duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7% on dairy products imported from the European Union as early as Tuesday. The measures target milk, cream, and a broad range of cheeses, including premium varieties such as French Roquefort. Most affected exporters are expected to face tariffs of around 30%, sharply raising costs for access to the Chinese market.
The decision follows the initial phase of an anti-subsidy investigation and is widely viewed as a response to the European Union’s earlier tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Beijing argues that subsidies distorted competition, while EU officials dispute the findings and warn the move could further strain already fragile trade relations.
With EU dairy exports to China worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually, analysts say the duties could significantly reduce shipments and accelerate a broader tit-for-tat trade conflict between the two economies.
