By Sherry Qin

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union, escalating trade tensions after the EU's anti-subsidy probe into China's electric-vehicle makers.

The investigation will focus on brandy products that come in smaller than 200-liter containers from the EU, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.

The probe follows a complaint submitted by the China Alcoholic Beverages Association on behalf of the domestic brandy industry, it added.

"The application meets the conditions for filing an anti-dumping investigation," a ministry spokesperson said.

In September, the EU had launched an anti-subsidy investigation into China's EV makers amid concerns over the impact of low-priced products from China on domestic industries.

Write to Sherry Qin at sherry.qin@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 05, 2024 05:21 ET (10:21 GMT)