Recently, on December 23, the Chinese government began imposing temporary anti-subsidy tariffs ranging from 21.9% to 42.7% on certain dairy products originating from the European Union. This move has sparked condemnation from the EU, with France calling for immediate action and retaliation.
According to reports from Bloomberg, the French Ministry of Finance stated in an email that the French government considers China’s tariff measures to be “unilateral and lacking legal basis, unacceptable.” The statement also mentioned that France has requested the European Union to activate necessary procedures and take countermeasures against China’s decision.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday the imposition of temporary tariffs on certain EU dairy products, citing the discovery of subsidies on these products. Products affected include France’s iconic Roquefort blue cheese and butter.
François-Xavier Huard, Secretary-General of the French National Dairy Industry Federation (FNIL), mentioned in an interview with Reuters that French companies hold a significant position on the list of enterprises affected by these temporary tariffs for a simple reason: France is a major exporter to China within the EU, especially in core products under investigation such as butter and cheese. Each year, Europe exports 100,000 tons of butter to China, with France accounting for half, i.e., 50,000 tons. Similarly, the EU also exports a total of 6,000 tons of cheese to China annually.
Among the latest temporary tariffs imposed by China, French dairy company Fromarsac faces a 30% tax rate.
Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Commission, condemned China’s investigation as being based on dubious allegations and lacking evidence, deeming these tariff measures unreasonable and unfounded. “The European Commission has taken action at the World Trade Organization regarding China’s investigation into dairy products. The European Commission will continue to take all necessary measures to defend the rights of European producers,” Gill stated.