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6/5/13

France demands emergency EU summit over China's wine tax threat - by Bruno Waterfield

France has demanded that the European Union holds an emergency summit after Beijing responded to a Brussels announcement of “anti-dumping” tariffs on Chinese solar panels by threatening retaliatory levies on wine imported from Europe.

One day after the European Commission levied heavy tariffs, reaching 48pc in August, on subsidised solar panels made in China, the Far Eastern country announced it is considering a tit-for-tat move to levy a similar “anti-dumping” duty on wines made in EU. Francois Hollande, the French President, has expressed alarm at a development that threatens exports worth €546m for France and called for a special Brussels summit to discuss the escalating trade war between the EU and China.

 “The President of the Republic expressed his desire that the European Commission take steps to organise a meeting to establish a united position of the 27 based on solidarity,” said Mr Hollande’s spokesman on Wednesday. Echoing the language used by the EU before the commission hit Chinese solar panels with import tariffs, the Chinese trade ministry announced it had begun an anti-dumping investigation into EU wines at the request of Chinese wineries.

Note EU-Digest: Obviously China is positioning itself to come to some kind of settlement. They are well aware that a trade war with Europe would not be to anyone's benefit especially China.  

Read more: France demands emergency EU summit over China's wine tax threat - Telegraph

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