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China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced Wednesday that it will further extend the anti-dumping investigation into imported brandy from the EU to July 5,MKsport 2025, as experts pointed out that the prudent and legal move showed China's great importance to the investigation as well as China-France, China-EU relations. 

The investigation was initially launched on January 5, 2024, and the deadline was firstly extended to April 5, 2025. Due to the complexity of the case, and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the deadline has now been extended to July 5, 2025, according to the MOFCOM. 

The investigation outcome should be grounded in objective facts and align with the logic of China-EU economic and trade relations, and the latest extension reflects the China's rigorous and methodical approach to the process, Zhang Jian, a vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

"China has consistently attached great importance to this investigation, as well as to China-France and China-EU relations with France being the largest source of brandy imports to China," he added.

The MOFCOM said on August 29, 2024 that a preliminary assessment showed that the imported brandy from the EU involves dumping, and there is a causal relationship between the dumping and the substantial threat of damage in domestic brandy industry.

Since October 11, 2024, China has imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy originating from the EU, setting deposits margins between 30.6 percent to 39 percent for imported brandy form EU.

This marks the second extension of the measures. In December last year, MOFCOM announced that the investigation was extended until April 5, 2025.

Zhang noted that China aims to ensure the stable development of China-EU relations within a predictable environment, which would support bilateral economic and trade growth and contribute to overall stability. He added that this approach also allows room for the continued development of China-EU and China-France economic and trade ties.

China has consistently adhered to the WTO rules in addressing economic and trade issues, while the stable development of China-EU economic and trade relations also requires understanding and cooperation from the EU, Zhang said. He noted that dialogue between the two sides has been ongoing and expressed confidence that a mutually acceptable solution can still be reached.

Consultations and dialogue between China and the EU have continued throughout the year. Experts noted that both sides' willingness to engage constructively remains a key factor in resolving economic and trade issues effectively.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic in Beijing on March 27, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

During the meeting, He said that China is willing to work with the EU to strengthen dialogue and exchange, handle economic and trade differences in the proper manner, expand mutual openness, and promote the healthy, stable development of China-EU economic and trade relations. 

Sefcovic noted that China is an important partner of the EU, expressed a willingness to use the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen China-EU economic and trade cooperation, and agreed that differences should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, the report showed.