China will begin levying countervailing duties on certain dairy products imported from the European Union starting Friday, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Thursday, issuing its final determination after an 18-month investigation.

The duties, set at rates ranging from 7.4 percent to 11.7 percent depending on the product category and exporter, will remain in force for five years, the ministry said.

In its ruling, the ministry said certain EU dairy products had benefited from subsidies and that China's domestic dairy industry had suffered material injury as a result.