The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced last Thursday that it will impose final tariffs ranging from 7.4% to 11.7% on certain dairy imports from the European Union.
The tariffs, which came into effect last Friday, February 13, and will remain in place for five years, replace provisional duties ranging from 21.9% to 42.7% announced in December 2025 following Beijing’s preliminary determination.
The products affected include fresh and processed cheeses, such as blue cheeses and curds, as well as liquid milk and cream with a fat content above 10%.
The European Commission (EC) stated that it will assess the implications of these tariffs and examine all available options, including the possibility of taking the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO). “Our commitment is to protect the legitimate interests of the European dairy sector within the framework of international rules,” said EC spokesperson Olof Gill during the Commission’s daily press briefing, reported by EFE. Brussels deemed the measures “unjustified,” arguing that China’s prior investigations lacked “sufficient evidence” to justify initiating the procedures. Although the final tariffs are lower than the provisional ones, the EU maintains its position that the Chinese investigation should not have been launched.
The announcement comes amid commercial tensions between China and the European Union. In Europe, the dairy investigation has been interpreted as a potential response to EU anti-subsidy tariffs applied to Chinese electric vehicles in 2024.
France, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Spain are the main European exporters of dairy products to China. In the case of Spain, sales reached approximately €82 million in 2024, according to official data.
