The decision, announced on Monday, is being widely interpreted as retaliation for the European Commission’s ongoing investigation into alleged state subsidies for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. The measures are expected to affect a range of European goods, including cheeses such as Roquefort, and come amid parallel Chinese trade actions targeting European alcoholic beverages and pork. Chinese authorities said tariff rates would vary by producer, depending on the level of cooperation with investigators during the probe, an approach that mirrors the European Union’s methodology in its own trade defense cases. The European Commission has not yet issued a formal response. EU officials have previously argued that trade defense instruments are necessary to protect fair competition within the bloc. European producers, meanwhile, warn that any new tariffs could undermine their market share in China, where demand for premium dairy and alcoholic products has grown in recent years. The latest dispute highlights the growing fragility of EU–China trade relations at a time when both economies are grappling with slower growth and rising geopolitical strain.