The European Commission announced on Tuesday October 8 that it would challenge before the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chinese measures against cognac imports adopted after the EU’s decision to impose surcharges on electric cars manufactured in China . “We believe that these measures are unfounded and we are determined to defend European industry against the abusive use of trade defense instruments”declared a spokesperson, Olof Gill.
“The European Commission will challenge at the WTO the announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures by China on imports of cognac from the EU”he explained.
China will require importers of European cognac to post a bond with Chinese customs from Friday, following the EU’s decision to impose up to 35% additional customs duties on imports of electric cars imported from China.
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“We are never worried”
These announcements come against a backdrop of rising tensions between China and the European Union (EU), an essential trading partner for the Asian giant.
The European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, appeared calm in the face of Beijing’s announcements. “We are never worried”he said during a press conference in Luxembourg. The aim of EU measures against Chinese electric car imports is to restore a level playing field with manufacturers accused of benefiting from massive public subsidies.
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“We are reasonable. We carried out a serious investigation, (…) “We have made appropriate and very proportionate decisions, and I don’t think there is any reason to respond to those proportionate decisions with retaliation.”said Mr. Gentiloni.
