China slaps anti-dumping measures on brandy imports from EU

BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Tuesday announced provisional anti-dumping measures on brandy imports from the European Union, according to a statement from the Chinese commerce ministry, reversing an earlier move amid continued tense trade talks.

From Oct. 11, importers will be required to provide what the ministry described as a corresponding security deposit to Chinese customs when importing relevant brandies originating in the EU.

The move was an about-turn after Beijing recently said it would not impose provisional tariffs on brandy imported from the EU despite finding it had been sold in China below market prices.

That was supposed to give both sides some breathing room in their ongoing heated trade talks.

Previously, when the commerce ministry decided not to improse provisonal anti-dumping measures it had said that probe would end before Jan. 5, 2025, but that it could be extended.

China had recently been trying to drum up support from the bloc’s 27-member states to reject the European Commission’s proposal to adopt hefty added tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in a vote expected soon.