France urges EU meeting to discuss China's probe

PARIS - French President Francois Hollande called on his European partners to hold a meeting in sought of a common front on trade talks with China following its anti-dumping probe on European wine imports, a government official said Wednesday.

According to Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the government's spokeswoman, Hollande called the 27 members of the European bloc to meet and to come out with " a consolidated point of view," on China's decision to launch probe into sales of European wine.

Local medias said French trade ministry had took "very seriously" China's decision which it said "inappropriate and reprehensible."

The ministry's officials were not immediately available to comment.

On Wednesday, China announced an anti-dumping probe on the European wine in response to the EU's decision to impose punitive tariffs on imports of Chinese solar panels, a move that would hit European wine exports mainly Paris' sales.

According to the FEVS producers' federation, China represents the third biggest market for French wines and spirits by value, or 9 percent of the country's total sales abroad.