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.

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