Chinese winemakers call for probe on EU imports

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In the meantime, wine producers in China have applied to the Ministry of Commerce for investigations into whether European imports are damaging the domestic market. The ministry responded on Monday saying it is currently vetting the application according to the law. It will then decide whether to file the case.

The wine division of the China Alcoholic Drinks Association has asked the ministry to launch the anti-dumping and countervailing probes on imported wine from the European Union. The association claims that the EU has provided various subsidies to the wine industry, putting Chinese wine makers at a disadvantage.

As foreign wine merchants are tapping into the Chinese market, local winemakers are starting to feel the pressure. In the past four years, the market share of wine imported from the EU in China has jumped from 5 percent to 14 percent.