The European Commission announced on Tuesday, October 8, that it will challenge before the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chinese measures against cognac imports adopted following the EU’s decision to impose surcharges on electric cars manufactured in China. “We believe that these measures are unfounded and we are determined to defend European industry against the abusive use of trade defense instruments”declared a spokesman, Olof Gill.
“The European Commission will challenge before the WTO the announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures by China on imports of cognac from the EU”he explained.
China will require importers of European cognac to submit a bond to Chinese customs from Friday, following the EU’s decision to impose up to 35% additional customs duties on imports of electric cars imported from China.
“We never worry”
These announcements come in a context of growing tensions between China and the European Union (EU), an essential trading partner of the Asian giant.
The European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, appeared calm in the face of Beijing’s announcements. “We never worry”he said during a press conference in Luxembourg. The aim of the EU’s measures against Chinese electric car imports is to restore a level playing field with manufacturers accused of benefiting from huge public subsidies.
“We are reasonable. We carried out a serious investigation, (…) “We have made appropriate and very proportionate decisions, and I don’t think there is any reason to respond to those proportionate decisions with retaliation.”Mr. Gentiloni said.
