China announced on Monday that it will impose temporary duties on certain dairy products imported from the European Union, escalating an ongoing trade dispute.

The duty deposits, ranging from 21.9 percent to 42.7 percent, will take effect on Tuesday. Affected products include fresh and processed cheese, curd, blue cheese, and some milk and cream, according to China’s commerce ministry.

The move follows an anti-subsidy investigation launched in August 2024 after a request from the Dairy Association of China. The probe is expected to conclude in February. Preliminary findings showed that EU subsidies caused significant damage to China’s domestic dairy industry.

The dairy duties come shortly after China imposed anti-dumping levies on EU pork imports for five years. Those levies, which began on December 17, range from 4.9 percent to 19.8 percent.