China hits back at EU wine over solar panel duties

A man smells a glass of red wine from Italy's Rosso Vino vineyard during the 6th Shanghai International Wine Trade Fair in this June 1, 2011 file photo. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Files

BEIJING (Reuters) - China hit back at European wine exports on Wednesday in response to the European Union's decision to impose duties on imports of Chinese solar panels, as tensions mounted between two of the world's biggest trading partners.

In a step targeting southern European states such as France and Italy that back the duties but largely sparing north European opponents such as Germany, Beijing said it launched an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into sales of European wine.