Anti-dumping probe into imported EU brandy launched
China has begun an anti-dumping investigation on brandy imported from the European Union (EU), it said on Friday, a step likely to increase tensions with the bloc that is scrutinising Chinese electric vehicle subsidies and biodiesel imports. The investigation announced by the Commerce Ministry in Beijing will focus on brandy in containers of less than 200 litres from the EU. It was prompted by a complaint submitted by the China Alcoholic Beverages Association on behalf of the domestic brandy industry, the ministry said. China is a major market for French brandy. Tension between China and Europe has mounted, especially over trade. In December at a summit, EU leaders said Europe would not tolerate "unfair competition" from China, and Beijing told the EU it expected Brussels to exercise prudence when introducing "restrictive" trade policies. Since September, the EU has weighed levying tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, saying they unfairly benefit from subsidies. In December, the EU said it would begin an anti-dumping investigation into biodiesel imports from China, which the bloc's industry says has had a severe impact on domestic production, leaving it unable to compete. (Reuters)