Press releases

Brussels, 4 July 2025 – spiritsEUROPE regrets today’s decision by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to impose final anti-dumping duties averaging 32.2% on EU wine-based spirits, marc-based spirits, and brandies as of 5 July. This decision comes despite the substantial evidence submitted by the EU spirits sector over the last 18 months, clearly demonstrating the absence of any dumping practices on the Chinese market. While the final average duty is slightly lower than the provisional rate applied since 11 October 2024, the measures will still pose a significant barrier to legitimate trade.

In an effort to safeguard their operations and maintain a stable presence in the Chinese market, several affected companies have entered into price undertakings with MOFCOM. These arrangements—facilitated by sustained diplomatic engagement from the EU and France—will replace anti-dumping duties for these companies. They are expected to apply from the same date as the final duties and will cover the three sampled companies as well as other businesses recognised by MOFCOM as cooperating parties. In a separate positive move, the MOFCOM announcement confirms the reimbursement of guarantees, and the release of securities paid since October 2024.

spiritsEUROPE firmly maintains that minimum price commitments do not imply any wrongdoing or dumping. While they will help soften the impact, the terms remain less favourable than the conditions that existed prior to the launch of the investigation in January 2024. Moreover, a significant number of EU producers are not covered by these arrangements and will face steep and unjustified duties.

“We regret the decision to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on EU wine-based and marc-based spirits producers, despite the clear evidence presented to the contrary,” said spiritsEUROPE Director General Hervé Dumesny. “Beyond its direct impact on our sector, this decision risks fuelling trade tensions at a time when mutual cooperation is more important than ever. We nonetheless welcome the conclusion of price undertakings with certain companies, as they offer partial relief, and we urge that this option be extended to all companies that have signed up.”

Our ultimate goal remains the full removal of these duties and related restrictions. In the meantime, we call on the Chinese authorities to take immediate steps to ease the situation—by applying the minimum price commitment regime to all companies that complied with procedural requirements throughout the investigation and have signed up, and by fully reopening duty-free sales channels for the affected products.

Hervé Dumesny concludes: “We urge all parties to seek a constructive political solution that will allow for the full withdrawal of these measures and restore fair and predictable market access for all EU spirits exporters.”

ENDS