China introduces provisional countervailing measures on EU dairy imports
Beijing, Dec 22 — official Chinese sources.
China’s Ministry of Commerce on Monday published preliminary rulings in its countervailing investigation into selected dairy products imported from the European Union.
According to MOFCOM Announcement No. 83 (2025), China will apply provisional countervailing measures in the form of duty deposits on EU-origin dairy imports, effective 23 December.
⚠️ The measures and rates are preliminary and may be revised following the final investigation.
Key elements (preliminary data)
• Measure type: provisional countervailing duty deposits
• Rate range: 21.9%–42.7%, depending on exporter and level of cooperation
◦ sampled cooperating companies — individual rates within the range
◦ other cooperating companies — 28.6%
◦ non-cooperating companies — 42.7%
• Products covered: milk and cream (fat content >10%), fresh and processed cheeses, blue cheeses and other dairy products
• HS codes: 04015000, 04061000, 04062000, 04063000, 04064000, 04069000
• Investigation launch: 21 August 2024, following an application by China’s dairy industry association
• Preliminary finding: a causal link between EU subsidies and material injury to China’s domestic dairy industry
• Investigation deadline: extended until 21 February 2026
In a separate official Q&A, the Ministry of Commerce stated that the investigation followed standard procedures, including data collection, hearings and verification, and stressed that the current measures are temporary and reversible pending the final ruling.
Context
The measures announced by China are provisional countervailing duty deposits, not final tariffs. This places the dairy case at an early, reversible stage of the trade-remedy process.
Unlike the EU pork case — where China imposed final anti-dumping duties for five years on 17 December — the dairy investigation remains open until 21 February 2026. The use of temporary deposits indicates that Beijing is signalling pressure rather than locking in long-term restrictions, leaving room for bilateral consultations and potential adjustments before the final ruling.
In practice, the current rate range — reaching up to 42.7% — functions as a warning mechanism. Final duties may be lowered, revised or withdrawn depending on the outcome of the investigation and EU-China negotiations over the coming months.BSM © 2025 | balticfocus.org/
Image: photos/photo_132@22-12-2025_13-41-52.jpg