Tomorrow, December 23, the Chinese mainland will roll out provisional duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7% on certain dairy products imported from the European Union 🧀🐄. This move comes after officials found evidence that EU dairy exports were heavily subsidized, causing "substantial damage" to local producers.
The list of affected items includes fresh and processed cheese, curd, blue cheese, as well as some milk and cream. Producers and importers from the EU are bracing for higher costs at a time when global milk prices are already on the rise.
So, how did we get here? Back in August 2024, the Dairy Association of China asked the Chinese Commerce Ministry to investigate EU subsidies. After a months-long anti-subsidy probe, investigators concluded that financial support in the EU distorted trade and hurt the Chinese dairy industry.
Trade analysts say this is Beijing’s latest bid to protect domestic businesses and level the playing field. For young professionals and students tracking global markets, this story highlights how subsidies and trade remedies can reshape supply chains and prices at your local supermarket.
What’s next? The provisional duties will stay in place while the investigation continues. If confirmed, they could become permanent later in 2026. In the meantime, EU exporters might look for workarounds, and Chinese buyers could turn to suppliers in other regions.
Stay tuned as we follow how this trade tension unfolds and what it means for cheese fans and investors alike!
Reference(s):
China to impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on EU diary products
cgtn.com
