Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Commission in Brussels said in a statement that the European Union takes very seriously any unfair use of trade defense tools against any sector of our economy. The Commission, the executive body of the European Union, added that the misuse of trade defense for inappropriate reasons constitutes a clear violation of World Trade Organization rules. Accordingly, the Commission will vigorously challenge at the WTO level China's imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures on brandy imports from the European Union.
In parallel, the Commission will now carefully identify and assess all possibilities to provide appropriate support to EU producers facing the negative impact of this unjustified decision by the Chinese government.
We have tools at our disposal to address the harmful effects on EU producers of market disruptions, or the threat thereof.
The Commission will always stand firmly and fearlessly on the side of EU producers, industry, open and fair trade and a level playing field globally.
This came after the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced yesterday, Tuesday, the imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures on imports of "brandy" from the European Union. Starting October 11, importers will have to provide a security deposit to Chinese customs when importing European beverages.
The move comes after China reversed an earlier decision not to impose temporary duties on imports of the European beverage, despite asserting that the product was being sold in the Chinese market at prices lower than its real value.
The decision is attributed to the Chinese government’s attempt to ease tensions in ongoing trade talks with European countries.
Brandy is an alcoholic beverage made by distilling fruit juice, usually from grapes. Brandy is a type of alcohol that includes some famous varieties such as “cognac” and “Armenique.”
The Ministry of Commerce said that the dumping investigation is expected to be completed before January 5, 2025, with the possibility of extending it if necessary.
In a related context, China is seeking to win the support of European Union member states to reject the European Commission’s proposal to impose additional duties on Chinese electric cars, a proposal that is expected to be voted on soon.