After meat, China imposes duties on European dairy

China announced today (December 22) that it will introduce import duties on dairy products originating from Europe. The duties are substantial and can rise up to 42.7%. This is a provisional decision from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, following the anti-dumping investigation that the Asian country started in August 2024, and can be seen as a retaliatory action for the European import duties on Chinese electric cars. At that time, China also scrutinized pork and dairy from Europe simultaneously. Now China is also imposing provisional rates on European dairy products such as types of cheese, milk, and cream intended for human consumption. The rate levels vary between 21.9% and 42.7% and will take effect from Tuesday. As a result, China leaves milk and whey powder, which are by far the largest European export streams, untouched. In 2024, China imported nearly 30,000 tons of cheese from the European Union, according to trade data (Harmonised System). In 2025, the export volumes so far are at a lower level. Pork The investigation into pork is already further along. In September, provisional rates were introduced that were confirmed last week. The rates for Dutch meat companies vary roughly between 9.8% and 19.8% for the next five years.