China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced an extension of the anti-dumping probe into EU brandy due to what the ministry cited as “the complexity of the case”, signaling a potential easing of trade tensions.

The probe, originally scheduled to conclude within a year, will now run until April 5, 2025, the ministry announced on Dec. 25, 2024.

The extension follows an application from EU exporters for price undertakings and requests for legal protection from China’s domestic brandy industry, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yongqian said during a press briefing the following day.

“Considering the complexity of this case and at the request of the EU, the investigating authority decided to postpone the final ruling,” He said.

On Jan. 5, 2024, China announced an anti-dumping probe into the EU’s brandy imports and released a preliminary ruling on Aug. 29, 2024, stating that the products were being dumped in the Chinese market.  Starting Oct. 11, 2024, MOFCOM began imposing anti-dumping deposits ranging from 30.6% to 39.0% on EU-imported brandy.