The Ministry of Commerce Photo: VCG

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Monday expressed regret over the EU's move to take China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over China’s anti-subsidy investigation into EU dairy products. MOFCOM said the investigation was initiated based on Chinese laws and to protect domestic industry interests.

The European Commission (EC) launched a consultation request at the WTO on Monday, challenging China's initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation against imports of certain dairy products from the EU, according to a statement on the website of the EC.

MOFCOM said it received a requirement for consultation from the European side and will handle it in accordance with the relevant rules of the WTO.
As a member of the WTO, China has always approached trade remedy measures with caution and restraint to uphold fair and free trade. The recent anti-subsidy investigation into EU dairy products was initiated in accordance with Chinese laws and in response to a request from the domestic industry. China has a responsibility to protect the legitimate interests and rights of its domestic industries, the MOFCOM said.

China on August 21 started an anti-subsidy investigation into certain dairy products imported from the EU, according to MOFCOM.

At a press conference in August, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said the probe was launched in response to an application by China's domestic industry, stressing that this probe was fundamentally different from the EC's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles because the latter was launched without an application filed by EU member states or the industry within the EU.

China's anti-subsidy probe into imported EU dairy products will be approached in an open and transparent manner based on Chinese laws and regulations and by following WTO rules, according to MOFCOM.

The Global Times learned exclusively in June from a business insider that relevant Chinese industries were preparing evidence, as they planned to apply to competent authorities to launch an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of relevant dairy products from the EU.