The European Commission on Monday announced it was challenging provisional Chinese tariffs on imports of EU brandy at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Beijing is acting on insufficient evidence and China has not proven that EU imports threaten the Chinese brandy industry,

The EU has initiated a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China's tariffs on the bloc's brandy exports, which are proving a hot political issue in France. The move follows China's imposition of “anti-dumping measures” ranging from 30.6% to 39% on EU brandies in response to the European Commission's duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

The European Commission has filed a case against China with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over temporary anti-dumping measures imposed by Beijing on brandy imports from the EU. China implemented these measures in retaliation for EU tariffs on Chinese-produced electric vehicles.

The EU has taken China's provisional anti-dumping measures on EU brandy to the WTO, escalating trade tensions. France supports this challenge, following duties on Chinese electric vehicles by the EU.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- The European Commission said on Monday it has formally challenged the provisional anti-dumping measures imposed by China on imports of European Union brandy at the World Trade Organization.

Today, the European Commission formally requested consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding China’s provisional anti-dumping measures on imports of EU brandy. This step reflects the EU’s firm belief that China’s measures are not compliant with WTO rules.

The EU Commission said on Monday it had formally brought the provisional anti-dumping measures imposed by China on imports of EU brandy to the World Trade Organization, the latest development amid trade tensions between the two blocs.

The European Union has only seen limited progress in recent weeks in negotiations with China over a comprehensive deal to replace tariffs on electric vehicles, according to people familiar with the matter.