China lowers tariffs on European dairy products after closing investigation into damages to its industry

the European Union, after concluding that they receive subsidies and caused "substantial damage" to the national industry. The rates, which will come into effect this Friday, February 13, and will be applied for five years, replace the provisional duties of between 21.9% and 42.7% announced in December 2025, when Beijing published its preliminary determination. The measures will affect a series of products that include fresh and processed cheeses, including blue cheeses, or curds, as well as milk and unconcentrated cream with a fat content greater than 10%. Importers will have to pay the tariffs on an 'ad valorem' basis, calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the product, while the deposits collected during the provisional period will be adjusted to the definitive rates, with a refund of any excess. According to the official statement published on Thursday by the trade department, the investigation was initiated on August 21, 2024, at the request of the Chinese dairy ...