EU challenges China's dairy product probe at WTO 

Brussels — 

The European Commission launched a situation astatine the World Trade Organization (WTO) connected Monday against China's probe into EU dairy products, initiated aft the European Union placed import tariffs connected Chinese electrical vehicles.

This is the archetypal clip the European Union has taken specified enactment astatine the commencement of an investigation, alternatively than hold for it to effect successful commercialized measures against the bloc.

"The EU's enactment was prompted by an emerging signifier of China initiating commercialized defence measures, based connected questionable allegations and insufficient evidence, wrong a abbreviated play of time," the committee said.

Proceedings astatine the WTO commencement with a mandatory play of 60 days for the parties to consult each other. The Commission said it would inquire the WTO to acceptable up an adjudicating sheet if the consultations did not pb to a satisfactory solution.

WTO panels usually instrumentality much than a twelvemonth to scope conclusions.

China initiated its anti-subsidy probe connected Aug. 21, targeting EU liquid milk, pick with a abdominous contented supra 10% and assorted types of cheeses.

The Commission said it was assured that EU dairy subsidy schemes are afloat successful enactment with planetary rules and not causing wounded to China's dairy sector.

The EU imposed provisional duties successful July connected electrical vehicles built successful China and EU members are expected to ballot soon connected last tariffs, which would use for 5 years.

China besides has ongoing anti-dumping investigations into EU brandy and pork.

(Reuters reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Bart Meijer; Editing by Alex Richardson and Tomasz Janowski)