China’s hit at EU brandy sparks fear of all-out trade war – POLITICO

Beijing will impose provisional measures against imports of European brandy starting this week, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced Tuesday, upping the ante in a brewing trade war between the European Union and China and triggering a strong response from Paris. 

The announcement comes just days after EU countries voted to slap duties on Chinese electric vehicles for five years. The move mainly targets French luxury Cognac brands, after Paris was viewed as the primary supporter of the European Commission's investigation into state subsidies on Chinese electric vehicles, and voted in favor of imposing duties on EVs in a vote last Friday.

Paris accused China’s President Xi Jinping of breaking a promise he had made to French President Emmanuel Macron of not imposing temporary duties during a visit to Paris last May.