The Ministry of Commerce on Monday announced it will impose temporary anti-dumping measures on certain brandy imports from the European Union (EU).

In a statement, the ministry said the decision follows a preliminary investigation that found EU brandy producers were dumping certain products in China, threatening to cause substantial damage to the domestic industry.

Importers of brandy originating in the EU must place deposits with Chinese customs based on dumping margins of between 30.6 percent and 39 percent.

The measures apply to grape-based spirits in containers less than 200 litres.

The measures follow a similar announcement made by the ministry on October 8.

It was not immediately clear whether these measures – which will come into effect on Friday – were new or an extension of existing ones.

France, Europe's leading producer of brandy, had described the measures announced last month as political after the EU imposed hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles over unfair competition claims. (Xinhua/AFP)