While Beijing had threatened Brussels with reprisals, the EU confirmed on Tuesday that it wanted to impose additional taxes on Chinese electric cars for five years, considering that their price is too low, due to state subsidies.
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![Dairy products in a French supermarket, March 2024. (CLAUDIUS THIRIET / BIOSPHOTO / AFP)](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/pictures/jsO0iIaSWRqbdvEUy8jsBujZdUg/0x291:5200x3215/432x243/2024/08/21/058-2578158-66c5ae8a676ee078087185.jpg)
Investigations follow one another and cross paths. The Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday, August 21, that it was opening “an anti-dumping investigation into certain dairy products imported from the European Union”. Fresh cheese, blue cheese, curdled milk and other milk and cream products are in China’s sights, due to subsidies granted under the Common Agricultural Policy, according to the Chinese ministry.
This announcement comes in a context of tensions between Beijing and Brussels. The day before, the European Union said it was considering surtaxes on imports of Chinese electric cars for the next five years. Brussels fears for the competitiveness of its automobile industry, which is competing with Chinese models, whose prices are considered artificially low due to state subsidies.
Prior to this statement, Beijing had repeatedly threatened the EU with retaliation. In January, China had already announced that it was investigating an alleged infringement of competition by imported wine spirits, such as cognac, from France, before targeting imports of pork products via another procedure.