China has initiated an investigation into the dairy subsidies provided by the European Union and several of its member states.
The investigation could reshape the global dairy trade landscape with increased trade tensions potentially benefitting dairy exporters from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to a new report by Rabobank.
The investigation focuses on the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and national plans of eight countries and is in response to the European Union’s decision to hike tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
However, market impacts are unlikely to be felt until at least 2026 – if at all.
The report, Navigating Trade Tension: Potential impacts of China’s probe into EU dairy subsidies, says the EU’s recent announcement that it will increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles has led to a counter-reaction.
“With the EU tariffs set to rise significantly, China’s Ministry of Commerce has launched an investigation into EU dairy subsidies that could have far-reaching consequences for European exports.
“The targeted products, including liquid cream and various cheeses, represent a significant trade value of US$572.5 million [$917m] as of 2023,” report co-author senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said.
While the report says the current investigation does not encompass the highest-volume categories such as whey-derived products and milk powders, there is concern within the industry that China may broaden its investigation.
“The investigation, expected to run through most of 2025, leaves the door open for potential market impacts by 2026. France, as a major exporter, could be significantly affected, given its 37% share in the targeted product exports,” Higgins said.
“Meanwhile, some dairy industry participants are concerned that China could expand the scope of investigation-targeted products.”
As the investigation unfolds, non-EU dairy exporters including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US are poised to capitalise on any resulting trade shifts.
Should there be any additional tariffs implemented, products sourced from Oceania could be more competitively priced.
“As it stands, New Zealand and Australia already export large volumes of cheese and cream into China and would therefore be well-placed to step in and fill any trade gaps that might arise,” she said.
China’s domestic dairy industry is currently experiencing overproduction relative to demand. This has prompted a strategic shift towards value-added dairy products to better utilise the surplus and potentially reduce reliance on imports.
“The ongoing trade tensions with the EU may inadvertently accelerate this transition, offering a silver lining for local Chinese dairy producers and exporters from other nations,” Higgins said.
