Key Points:
- China finalises lower import duties on European Union dairy products
- New tariffs take effect Friday, February 13, 2026
- The move follows an 18-month anti-subsidy investigation
- European exporters say the reduction eases costs, but barriers remain
ISLAMABAD: China has announced significantly reduced import levies on certain European Union dairy products, with the new tariffs set to take effect on Friday.
According to the Chinese Commerce Ministry, a final ruling following an 18-month anti-subsidy investigation has enabled the reduction in tariff for EU products, Reuters reported.
The duties on a range of EU dairy goods, including cheeses, milk and cream, will be set between 7.4 per cent and 11.7 per cent for five years, sharply lower than the preliminary range of 21.9 per cent to 42.7 per cent imposed last year.
The investigation, launched in August 2024, examined subsidies granted under EU programmes such as the Common Agricultural Policy, which Beijing said distorted competition in its domestic market.
European officials criticised the earlier provisional tariffs as unjustified and partly motivated by broader trade tensions.
China is one of the major destinations for EU dairy exports, with an estimated value of approximately $589 million in 2024. The reduction in tariffs is expected to lower costs for exporters, though some barriers remain. The decision occurs amid wider Sino-European trade frictions, including disputes over electric vehicle tariffs and agricultural safeguards, with negotiations on alternative arrangements still ongoing.
