(AFP) - A European business group on Wednesday criticised Chinese calls to probe EU wine imports as "protectionist", as a dispute between the major trading partners threatened to escalate. The China Alcoholic Drinks Industry Association this week formally requested the government to investigate whether wine from the European Union was damaging the domestic market. China's commerce ministry is now considering whether to take action following the request, which made claims of unfair European subsidies to its industry, state media reported. The EU Chamber of Commerce in China called the developments a "worrisome trend of trade protectionism".