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China Strikes Back: Anti-subsidy Investigation Begins Against Imported Dairy Products From The EU

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 22, 2024

China has announced the start of an investigation into EU-subsidized dairy imports. The news comes just a day after Brussels published its revised draft to introduce higher tariffs on electric car imports from China.

KEY FACTS

According to information from the state-run Xinhua news agency, China’s Ministry of Commerce is launching an anti-subsidy investigation against imports of dairy products intended for consumption. It is about cheeses, milk and creams.
The investigation began following a complaint filed by the China Dairy Association and the China Dairy Industry Association on July 29.
China will consider 20 subsidy schemes from across the 27-member bloc, specifically those from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Ireland and Romania.
According to Chinese customs data, the EU is the second largest supplier of dairy products to China with at least 36% of the total value of imports in 2023. According to data from the European Commission, in 2023 the EU exported to China dairy products worth 1, 7 billion euros ($1.84 billion).
In June, the Chinese authorities announced the initiation of another investigation – into the subsidized import of pork and frozen products. The investigation began following a complaint filed by the China Animal Breeding Association. According to data from EU customs, more than half of the pork imported from China in 2023, worth about 6 billion dollars, falls.

KEY STORY

The European Commission announced the introduction of higher tariffs on electric car imports from China and launched an investigation into the excessive amount of subsidies the state provides to the sector. The EU believes that cheap imports from China are undermining the European market. The tariffs were preliminary and were put in place while the investigation is still ongoing.

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China says the measures are protectionist and has threatened to retaliate with its own tariffs on a number of sectors, including pork, large-engine cars and spirits. Beijing also disputes the measures before the WTO.

According to the EC’s final proposal, the Chinese companies that will be hit the hardest by the higher tariffs are SAIC Motor Corp., Volvo Car parent company AB Geely and BYD. They face additional duties of 36.3%, 19.3% and 17% respectively. These duties will be added to the existing 10% levy on EV imports into the EU.

The final decision will be taken only after the publication of the final regulation by 30 October 2024 at the latest. All potential measures will be in force for a period of 5 years, which may be extended.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Rates may still change before they become final. The parties have the right to dispute this proposal within 10 days after its publication. Their comments will be considered and taken into account. Chinese companies condemned the EC’s decision and described the tariffs as “unfair”.

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EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.