The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has announced that, as of Friday, October 11 2024, importers of EU wine-based and marc-based products to China must provide security deposits based on provisional anti-dumping duties.

“Today’s decision means that, at an extremely short notice, EU producers will be hit by a significant additional financial burden when exporting EU wine-based and marc-based products to China,” says Ulrich Adam, director general of spiritsEurope.

He believes this new step exerts an “extremely negative impact on the exporters of EU wine-based and marc-based spirits to China,” a major export destination.

Since January 2024, the sector has fully cooperated with Chinese authorities, demonstrating complete transparency. According to SpiritsEurope, the evidence provided clearly demonstrates the absence of dumping, injury or threat of injury.

The sector is a “collateral victim” of a broader trade conflict, as the Chinese authorities’ decision was taken in reaction to the EU’s vote on e-vehicle duties last Friday.

“We call on the European Commission to redouble efforts to find a negotiated solution with its Chinese counterparts urgently,” Adam affirms.