China will roll out provisional anti-subsidy duties of 21.9% to 42.7% on EU dairy imports starting December 23 – just one day after this announcement – in a move that's shaking up global trade dynamics. The measures target popular products like blue cheese, fresh curd, and specialty creams, potentially impacting prices and availability worldwide.
🔍 The Commerce Ministry revealed Monday that its year-long investigation found EU subsidies created 'substantial damage' to China's domestic dairy industry. The probe, launched last August following a request from the Dairy Association of China, marks Beijing's latest effort to protect local producers.
📦 Affected items include:
Fresh & processed cheeses
Artisanal curds
Blue-veined cheeses
Select milk and cream products
🌐 Trade analysts warn this could escalate tensions between the world's second-largest economy and the EU bloc, with some calling it 'the dairy domino effect' of 2025. While European producers scramble to assess impacts, Chinese consumers are bracing for potential price hikes on imported cheese platters and café lattes.
