China extends anti-subsidy probe into EU dairy products until 2026
Beijing (dpa) – China has extended its anti-subsidy investigation into European Union dairy products, citing the complexity of the case, the Commerce Ministry in Beijing said on Monday.
The review, which was due to conclude this week, will now run until February 21, 2026. Products under scrutiny include certain types of cheese, both fresh and processed.
The probe was launched in August 2024 and is widely seen as retaliation for the EU’s punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
It is not the only countermeasure taken by Beijing in the trade dispute: brandy and pork exports from the EU have also been targeted by Chinese investigations.
Beijing has accused Brussels of violating international trade rules with the extra duties on EVs.
The European Commission, for its part, says the tariffs are justified by what it considers excessive state subsidies for Chinese manufacturers. China has rejected the allegations and denounced the EU’s measures as protectionist.
The European Union and China celebrated 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations at a high-profile summit in Beijing last month, but contentious issues – among them the ongoing trade dispute – dampened the festive mood.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended a high-profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but no significant breakthroughs were made to resolve the trade issues. (18 July)
