China Targets EU Dairy in Probe as Trade Tensions Intensify

• The investigation to review 20 of the bloc’s subsidy programs
• It comes after Europe expanded tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

China has launched an anti-subsidy investigation into dairy imports from the European Union, the latest development in a tit-for-tat trade dispute between the two sides.

The probe will target several dairy products including fresh and processed cheese, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Wednesday. Beijing announced an anti-dumping investigation into EU pork exports in mid-June.

The trade tensions with Europe intensified earlier this year when the EU flagged additional tariffs on electric vehicles shipped from China. The bloc said on Tuesday that it intended to move forward with the import levies, and also announced tariffs on Tesla Inc. cars made in China.

The dairy products probe, initiated at the request of industry groups in China, will review 20 EU subsidy programs including some under the Common Agricultural Policy and others available for the dairy sectors in Italy and Finland, the ministry said in the statement. The investigation is expected to be completed within a year, and can be extended for another six months under special circumstances, it said.

Bloomberg

Indian Farmers Boost Planting of Rice and Pulses on Good Rain

Sowing of rice and pulses crops has increased in India as monsoon rains have been higher than average so far in the season.

Rice has been planted on about 36.91 million hectares (91.2 million acres) of land, up 5.6% from a year earlier, the farm ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. India is the world’s biggest exporter of the food grain.

The area under pulses rose to 12.02 million hectares, up 5.7% from a year earlier. Plantings for corn and oilseeds have also increased.

Rains have been 4% above normal so far in the monsoon period that runs from June to September, according to the India Meteorological Department. Sowing normally begins in late May and peaks in July, with harvesting typically starting in late September.

Bloomberg

Qatar Airways acquires a 25% stake in South Africa’s Airlink

Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% stake in South Africa's regional carrier Airlink in a bid to further develop its operations across the continent.

The investment in Airlink, which flies to more than 45 destinations in 15 African countries, will enhance a code-sharing partnership between the two airlines in a deal, which the Gulf carrier said will bolster its Africa growth strategy.

“Our investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral we see Africa being to our business’ future. This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, as a company that is resilient, agile, financially robust and governed on sound principles, but also in Africa as a whole, showing huge potential...,” said Qatar Airways’ Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.

Zawya