By Euronews with AP
Published on
China will impose tariffs of up to 19.8% on pork imports from the European Union, a drastic drop from preliminary tariffs of up to 62.4%, its Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry’s announcement follows a lengthy Chinese investigation into imports of pork from the EU, launched in June 2024, which concluded that EU products were harming domestic industry.
That probe was prompted by the EU’s decision to impose provisional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles last year.
Beijing also levied anti-dumping duties on European brandy this summer. The tariffs most notably affect cognac produced in France, though major brandy producers received exemptions. Imports of dairy products from the EU were also subject to anti-dumping probes.
The EU runs a massive trade deficit with China, which came to over €300bn last year. However, the trading bloc is a major exporter of pork and key supplier of byproducts such as ears, snouts, feet, and other items considered to be delicacies in China. The Asian nation is suffering from a surplus of these products, also linked to its own economic downturn that has dampened consumer spending.
In September, China ordered preliminary anti-dumping duties, ranging from 15.6% to 32.7% for pork imports from EU companies that collaborated with the anti-dumping investigation. All other firms saw a levy of up to 62.4%.
China’s Commerce Ministry concluded that the EU was dumping pork and pig by-products in China, selling them at prices below production costs or domestic market prices, and harming China’s pork industry. The final tariff rates of 4.9% to 19.8% are due to take effect on Wednesday and last for five years.
Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark will be the most affected.
The Commerce Ministry said the new tariff will apply to all kinds of pork products, whether fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked, or salted.
It said it had reached its conclusions in an “objective, fair and impartial manner”.
EU exports of pork products to China peaked at €7.4bn in 2020, when Beijing turned to imports to meet domestic demand after its pig farms were devastated by a swine disease. But it has reduced imports as it has rebuilt its herds.