China's Ministry of Commerce said on the 22nd it will impose a provisional tariff of up to 42.7% on dairy products such as milk and cheese imported from the European Union (EU). This expands the list of items after it finalized an anti-dumping tariff on EU pork.
China's tariff on EU dairy products will take effect on the 23rd. The tariff rate was set at 21.9%–42.7% depending on each company's subsidy rate determined in the preliminary ruling. The targets are fresh and processed cheese, milk, and cream.
The ministry said, "Subsidies exist for dairy products imported from the EU, causing damage to the domestic related dairy industry."
China's move is a fallout from trade tensions with the EU that have continued since last year. After the EU imposed high anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year, China retaliated by levying tariffs on European agricultural and livestock products, brandy, and plastic raw materials.