Since October 11, China has already required importers of European brandies (wine-based spirits), of which cognac represents 95% of the total, to post a deposit with Chinese customs, as part of a anti-dumping investigation.
Retaliatory measure
The latter is widely seen as a retaliatory measure after France's strong support for the EU's imposition of customs surcharges on electric cars imported from China. “The investigating authorities (on European brandies) have decided to implement temporary anti-dumping measures in the form of a bond or a letter of guarantee,” the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Monday. press release.
A text with almost identical wording was published by this ministry on October 8 and resulted in the measures taken three days later. Monday's press release, presented as a “additional announcement”, does not specify the expiration date of these new temporary measures.
The European Commission adopted a regulation in October imposing additional customs duties on electric cars imported from China, accused of unfair competition. In France, the cognac inter-professional association believes that it has been “sacrificed” by the government for the benefit of the automobile industry.
The imposition of customs surcharges on cognac could be devastating for the sector and block this product's access to the Chinese market. “We are ready to take all possible technical and legal measures” if necessary, indicated last week the French Minister for Foreign Trade, Sophie Primas. However, she indicated that negotiations with Beijing on cognac remained “clearly open”.
In addition to brandies, China is also carrying out anti-dumping investigations targeting pork and dairy products imported from the EU, posing a threat to these sectors.
France
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