China intensified its trade tensions with Europe today by advancing its anti-dumping investigation into European brandy imports, coinciding with the European Commission’s imposition of provisional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs). Amid ongoing negotiations, China’s Commerce Ministry announced plans for a hearing on July 18 to discuss allegations of below-market pricing by European brandy producers. China has urged the EU to revoke the EV tariffs and expressed readiness to negotiate while hinting at potential retaliatory measures, including investigations into EU pork and dairy imports.