China cites case complexity for extending anti-dumping probe into EU brandy

China will extend the investigation period on the anti-dumping probe of European Union brandy producers until April 5, 2025, given the complexity of the case, which found that EU brandy producers were dumping certain products in China, threatening to cause substantial damage to the domestic industry, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

"So far, EU exporters have submitted price commitment applications, and the domestic brandy industry requests legal protection," said He Yongqian, a spokeswoman for the commerce ministry.

She added that at the request of the European side, the Chinese investigating authority has decided to postpone the final ruling and hopes that all parties involved will continue to cooperate with the investigation.

The Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-dumping investigation on imported brandy originating from the EU in January 2024, at the request of the domestic brandy industry.

After filing the case, the Chinese investigative authorities conducted the investigation strictly in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and WTO rules, and a preliminary ruling was made in August 2024. The dumping margin determined in the preliminary ruling was between 30.6 percent and 39 percent.

The commerce ministry imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on certain brandy imports originating from the EU, effective from Nov 15.

Brandy stands as China's biggest importing liquor variety. In 2023, the importing value of brandy reached $1.75 billion, up 23.6 percent year-on-year, and the category accounted for 62.5 percent of the total value of importing spirits, according to the China Chamber of Commerce of I/E of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-products.