Tomorrow, December 23, 2025, the Chinese mainland will impose provisional duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7% on certain dairy products imported from the European Union, the Chinese mainland Commerce Ministry announced on December 22. The move follows preliminary findings that subsidized EU products are inflicting substantial damage on the domestic dairy industry.
The measures cover a range of items, including fresh and processed cheese, curd, blue cheese, as well as select milk and cream products. The ministry launched an anti-subsidy probe in August 2024 after receiving a petition from the Dairy Association of China. Investigators linked EU subsidies to the downturn in local dairy producers’ market share and revenue.
Under World Trade Organization rules, these provisional duties will remain in effect while the Commerce Ministry completes its in-depth investigation, with final rulings expected by mid-2026. For EU exporters, the higher tariffs could translate into increased costs and tighter margins, reshaping global dairy supply chains and pricing.
Domestic dairy producers have viewed the anticipated duties as a long-sought relief, aiming to level the playing field against imported products. Observers will be watching closely to see if this measure prompts dialogue between the EU and the Chinese mainland on trade fairness and subsidy reform.
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China to impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on EU diary products
cgtn.com
