New York (ANSA) – China has introduced tariffs as high as 42.7% on European cheeses, a reaction to the European Union’s tariffs on electric vehicles. Brussels has labeled these measures as “unjustifiable” and is committed to doing everything in its power to protect farmers.
“We are concerned about the announcement of new tariffs by China,” stated European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill. The new restrictions are causing anxiety within Italian industry associations.
According to Coldiretti and Filiera Italia, the value of Italian cheese exports to China has surged threefold over the last five years. They warned that China’s imposition of duties on European dairy products could hinder the sector’s growth in the Asian market, with sales of Italian cheeses in China reaching €71 million in 2024, a 207% increase from 2020.
In the realm of Italian agri-food exports to China, cheese ranks second only to wine. Confagri has strongly criticized the measures, deeming them “unacceptable” and “legally incomprehensible.” Assolatte expressed concern that the Chinese government’s decision could severely impact the economic stability of Italian companies in the sector, which are not part of the ongoing trade disputes.
The tariffs, set to take effect on December 23, were imposed following an investigation initiated by Beijing in August 2024, which concluded that EU subsidies for dairy products had caused significant harm to the Chinese industry. These temporary tariffs will range from 21.9% to 42.7%, affecting companies that cooperated with the investigation with a tariff of 28.6%, while those that did not will face the maximum duty of 42.7%. These tariffs could become permanent by February 2026. (December 22)
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