Brussels launched proceedings at the World Trade Organization on Monday to challenge Beijing’s investigation into EU dairy products, which China opened after Brussels announced additional duties on Chinese electric car imports.
Request for consultation
“Today the Commission has launched a request for consultation with the World Trade Organization to challenge China’s opening of an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of certain dairy products from the EU,” the European Commission said in a statement.
A request for consultation is the first step in the WTO dispute settlement procedure.
On August 20, the Commission announced its decision to impose additional duties on electric cars imported from China for a period of five years. Beijing is accused of distorting competition by supporting manufacturers on its territory, allowing them to offer lower prices.
By doing so, the EU hopes to protect the automotive sector, which employs 14.6 million workers.
investigation
In June, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into EU pork and pork products, mainly produced in Spain, France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The European Commission considers that China’s investigation into European dairy products has no “factual basis”, and Brussels intends to “firmly defend” European interests against “arbitrary measures”.
The European Commission said in a press release that these European subsidies for dairy products are “fully consistent with international rules” and do not harm the Chinese dairy industry.
“The Chinese investigation into EU dairy products is based on dubious allegations and insufficient evidence, and we will therefore continue to protest it vigorously with all available means, calling on China to immediately halt this investigation,” said EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
A meeting between Dombrovskis and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on tariffs on electric cars ended last week without progress on the issue.
