Meanwhile, China said it would ban imports of soya oil from Argentina, seemingly in reprisal for anti-dumping measures against textile and other exports to Argentina.

Only this month Brussels increased tariffs on citrus fruits and imposed new anti-dumping measures on Chinese candles and certain industrial products.

They have more inclination toward protectionism and are also the recipients of cheap credit and subsidies that make them targets for foreign anti-dumping actions.

Europe itself pays a stiff price for using this trick, in antidumping duties ultimately paid by consumers that are higher than they otherwise would be.

The relationship will not collapse, even in the face of an avalanche of anti-dumping suits, as both governments work to delink the various issues on an increasingly complex bilateral menu.