BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China's imports of French wines have fallen amid fears that a trade spat between the European Union and China - the world's fifth-largest wine market - might lead to higher import tariffs on European wine.
During the first five months, wine imports rose 10.6 percent year-on-year to $660 million, according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Exports of Foods, Native Produce and Animal Products.
But French wine imports fell 9.3 percent to $280 million, even as wine purchases from other countries such as Spain, Italy, the United States and Australia registered gains of more than 30 percent.
The chamber, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce, said that although French wine imports still account for the highest share, at 46.3 percent, "its monopoly advantage has largely weakened".
Last month, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into European wine, in the wake of the EU move to impose and increase punitive tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels.
The investigation, wine distributors said, could lead to a substantial increase in duties.
Some distributors adopted a "wait-and-see" approach, while others are looking at other countries for business opportunities.
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