China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a final ruling on its year-long anti-dumping investigation into European Union brandy, concluding that imports were sold below fair value and threatened the domestic spirits industry. Duties ranging from 27.7% to 34.9% will be applied to EU brandy shipments for five years starting 5 July 2025. The ministry said 34 EU producers—including major cognac makers Pernod Ricard, LVMH’s Hennessy and Remy Cointreau—will be exempt from the tariffs if they respect minimum selling prices agreed with Beijing. Deposits paid since provisional duties were introduced in October 2024 will be reimbursed to companies that sign the price-undertaking deal. Beijing opened the probe in January 2024, shortly after Brussels announced plans for steep levies on China-made electric vehicles. The brandy decision adds to a growing list of bilateral trade frictions, which now span alcohol, automobiles and public-procurement access. French cognac exporters—whose global sales total about US$3 billion a year—have seen shipments to China drop sharply during the dispute and are pressing both governments for a broader de-escalation.