Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Responding to a media question for comment on the fact that China recently announced 34 brandy producers had agreed to set minimum prices to avoid additional tariffs, while other companies would still face the tariffs, and about French President Emmanuel Macron calling this "a positive step toward resolving this dispute," Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Monday that as a general principle, China hopes and believes that specific economic and trade issues between China and the EU can be resolved through dialogue and consultation.

China announced anti-dumping duties on European brandy on Friday while exempting major cognac makers that agreed to minimum price levels. Following a legal review, it accepted price undertakings submitted by relevant EU industry associations and companies. Imports that meet agreed conditions will be exempt from anti-dumping duties, according to China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

The day after, a spokesperson for the Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau of the MOFCOM responded to media inquiries on Saturday regarding the final ruling on the anti-dumping investigation into brandy imports from the EU, saying that the ministry has accepted price undertakings from 34 EU brandy producers in the final ruling of an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imports from the EU.

These companies will not be subject to anti-dumping duties when exporting to China, provided they meet the agreed terms, the spokesperson said.

The decision has received support from domestic industries and has been welcomed by the EU business community. The MOFCOM spokesperson added that accepting price commitments also reflects China's consistent position of willing to resolve trade frictions through dialogue and consultation.

Global Times