Criticising the EU for imposing anti-dumping duties on its solar panels, China today in a tit-for-tat move launched its own probe against French wine imports.
China has decided to begin an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into wines imported from the European Union, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said today.
The country's wine producers filed a petition to the ministry last year, calling for probes into the EU's dumping of wine that received unfair government subsidies and was damaging China's wine industry, according to the ministry.
"China has always been cautious about the use of trade remedy measures," it said, adding that the wine imports from the EU has risen at a high speed in recent years and will carry out a strict investigation according to relevant laws.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has called for talks to resolve anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels, which could badly hurt over USD 20 billion China's imports to EU.
The Ministry of Commerce said it was in "resolute opposition" to the European duties.
Meanwhile, Hong said China has decided to begin an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into wines imported from the EU.
Hong said China attaches importance to the strategic partnership with the EU and is committed to safeguarding the stable development of their economic ties.
"We hope that the EU will make joint efforts with China and refrain from taking protective measures, which is detrimental to both sides," he said.
