The move comes as China’s foreign minister is touring Belgium, France and Germany in an effort to bolster ties with the bloc amid trade tensions with Washington.

China spared major cognac producers Pernod Ricard, LVMH and Remy Cointreau from hefty duties on EU brandy on Friday, a rare bright spot at a time of trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing as the two sides row over tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

China exempts French cognac giants like Pernod Ricard and Remy Cointreau from tariffs if they agree to minimum price, easing EU-China trade tensions.