EU Slams Chinese Brandy Tariff as EV Trade War Continues

TaiwanPlus News

The European Union is pushing back against Chinese anti-dumping measures placed on French brandy. The move comes as the EU moves ahead with plans to levy tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Transcript

00:00Revellers looking for a nightcap in China may soon notice a difference in their drinks.

00:06That's as bartenders look for alternatives to brandy after China imposed anti-dumping

00:11tariffs of over 30 percent on imports of the spirit from the European Union.

00:16If the price really goes up much more, I don't think we can keep on using a very expensive

00:24brandy.

00:25We will actually choose something else.

00:27China says the anti-dumping measures are meant to promote fair competition between

00:31imports and domestic products.

00:33But they come less than a week after the EU backed tariffs of up to 45 percent on imports

00:38of Chinese-made electric vehicles, a move they say protects European automakers.

00:44Companies that sell French spirits took an especially hard hit after the brandy tariff

00:48was announced.

00:49The country provides 99 percent of brandy exports to China.

00:53And bar owners worry consumers might not be willing to pay higher prices for famous brands

00:57like Hennessy and Remy Martin.

00:59If you really ask the customers, do you really care for this specific brand to be in your

01:06drink or would you rather be charged equal amount or a little bit less, I think everybody

01:10would have to answer the second one.

01:13The EU said it would challenge the anti-dumping measures at the World Trade Organization,

01:17calling it abuse of trade defense instruments.

01:20China's commerce ministry also hinted at potential tariffs on cars, pork and dairy

01:25from the EU, leaving European countries wondering which industry will be hit next.

01:30This is the new reality.

01:31The EU has been unequipped for far too long to protect its interests.

01:36And now there is a time and maybe a momentum to push back, but also to do so collectively

01:43so that not only sends a message to China, but it also deters and also creates a level

01:50playing field.

01:51China and the EU will have to strike a balance between fostering fair competition and protecting

01:56the local businesses bearing the brunt of tit-for-tat tariffs.

02:00Howard Zhang and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.

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