China announced new ones on Thursday tariffs on some European dairy products, reaching up to 12%. Some Member States expressed dissatisfaction with this.
Chinese tariffs on dairy products. The European Commission reacts
“We consider these measures to be unjustified. (…) We will assess the impact of these measures and are committed to defending the interests of our dairy sector in the EU, in line with international trade rules. We will consider available options, including the possibility of taking action within the World Trade Organization.” – said the EC spokesman.
Gill added that he would not speculate on the logic behind China's actions.
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“From the European Union's perspective, the initiation of these investigations (by China on the import of dairy products) and the imposition of any duties are baseless, not based on facts” – he said and added that Beijing should withdraw from this decision.
New tariffs – how have they changed?
On Thursday, China reduced tariffs on imports of dairy products from the European Union worth over $500 million. This is the final decision in an 18-month anti-dumping proceeding initiated in response to tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese electric vehicles.
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New customs duties ranging from 7.4 percent up to 11.7%, will be valid for five years – from February 13. They will replace temporary tariffs ranging from 21.9%. to 42.7%, announced in December.
In the European Union, the dairy sector is one of the most important branches of agriculture, accounting for over 12%. the total value of the community's agricultural production, which puts it in second place after the plant and horticultural sector. Raw milk production in 2024 amounted to approximately 161.8 million tons, and its main centers are Germany, France and Poland, which strengthened its position as the third largest producer in the EU with a result exceeding 15.5 million tons.
Most of the raw material obtained is processed into products with high added value, primarily cheese and butter, which makes the EU dairy industry a key player on global markets and an important element in stabilizing the income of European farms.
