China Lowers Tariffs On Eu Dairy Imports

Cheese imported from Europe is displayed astatine a supermarket successful Beijing connected 21 August 2024. Credit: Pedro PARDO / AFP via Getty Images

China has reduced its import tariffs connected EU dairy imports from nan provisional rates imposed successful December.

The European Commission and The European Dairy Association (EDA) had lobbied Beijing successful guidance to nan duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7%, which were put successful spot by China’s Ministry of Commerce past twelvemonth pursuing an anti-dumping probe launched successful 2024.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to scope engaged professionals crossed 36 starring media platforms.

Find retired much

On Friday (30 January), nan Commission notified nan applicable European dairy bodies of nan tariff cuts to 11.7% connected nan apical side, pinch immoderate EU companies enjoying moreover little rates of 9.5%, specified arsenic Denmark-headquartered Arla Foods and France-based Lactalis.

The EDA told Just Food it is owed to meet pinch nan Commission this week to talk nan caller tariffs.

“An EU consequence should attraction connected defending marketplace access, supporting affected exporters wherever necessary, and avoiding escalation that could further disrupt dairy markets,” nan relation said successful a little statement.

It added: “China blames EU dairy imports for nan driblet successful Chinese home income prices, but our ain study shows that location is nary effect from CAP [Common Agriculture Policy] instruments connected Chinese markets for food and cream.

“All CAP measures cited by nan Chinese authorities person been notified to and approved by nan WTO.”

China said successful December that nan provisional duties followed a connection submitted to nan Customs Tariff Commission of nan State Council.

The investigation started successful August past twelvemonth to ascertain whether nan EU was blameworthy of exporting dairy products to nan Asian state astatine prices that put section producers astatine an unfair advantage. The probe followed akin enquiries launched by China for pork and brandy shipped from nan European trading bloc.

Belgium-headquartered waste and acquisition assemblage Eucolait said it was disappointed by China’s tariffs connected dairy contempt nan lowered rates.

“China remains nan world’s largest importer of dairy products and ingredients, and nan EU plays a important domiciled successful gathering this demand,” it said successful a statement.

“Cream and food shipments to China shape an important portion of nan EU’s high-value export portfolio. The announced duties, while considerably little than nan provisionally applied tariffs, will proceed undermining nan EU’s competitiveness connected nan Chinese market.”

“Eucolait is assured that Europe’s dairy waste and acquisition pinch China takes spot successful afloat compliance pinch world waste and acquisition rules. We support nan European Commission’s efforts to take sides our assemblage against unjustified waste and acquisition measures and telephone for a constructive and sustainable solution to this dispute.”

The European Commission had not responded to Just Food’s petition for remark connected nan caller duties and imaginable adjacent steps astatine nan clip of writing.

Late past year, China went up and slapped import duties connected EU pork for 5 years but astatine little rates than nan antecedently announced preliminary tariffs.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities agreed to reduce import tariffs connected UK whiskies, including Scotch, pursuing a sojourn from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to Beijing.

China’s Ministry of Finance said “a provisional import tariff complaint of 5% will beryllium applied to whisky” arsenic of coming (2 February). The UK authorities said rates were being reduced connected Scotch from 10% to 5%.