China has imposed tariffs of up to 43% on European cheeses: France demands an urgent response from the EU

High tariffs on European dairy products

According to Главком: China has imposed high tariffs on European dairy products, leading to a deterioration of relations between the EU and China. France, as one of the main producers of dairy products in Europe, demands an urgent response from the European Union regarding this decision, which will significantly impact the export of French cheeses. China has introduced temporary anti-subsidy tariffs on the import of dairy products from the EU, which will come into effect on December 23, 2025.

Impact of the new customs restrictions

The maximum tariff rate on European cheeses is 42.7%, while the average rate for most producers reaches about 30%. These new customs restrictions may significantly complicate access for European dairy products to the Chinese market, which will undoubtedly affect the financial performance of European producers. Last year, the volume of dairy exports from the EU to China exceeded 580 million euros, indicating the importance of this market for European farmers.

The French government emphasizes that China's actions are unilateral, lacking legal basis, and unacceptable. In response to the new tariff measures, France is calling for an immediate appeal of China's decision to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Furthermore, the government proposes to develop a compensation mechanism for farmers affected by the new restrictions and to consider the possibility of implementing mirror measures in response to China's actions.

The EU's trade deficit with China has already exceeded 300 billion euros, highlighting the complexity of trade relations between these parties. In such conditions, the issue of the European Union's response to China's actions becomes increasingly relevant, as the consequences could be serious for the European economy.

The introduction of high tariffs on dairy products from the EU indicates growing trade tensions between China and the European Union, which already have a significant deficit in their relations. If the EU cannot effectively respond to these actions, it could lead to further complications in trade relations and negatively impact the economies of European countries, particularly France, which is one of the largest producers of dairy products in the region. The importance of this issue highlights the need for international cooperation to resolve trade disputes.