China announced on Tuesday that it will impose anti-dumping tariffs of 4.9 per cent to 19.8 per cent on all pork imports from the European Union, effective Wednesday, for a duration of five years. The duties will cover all pork products, including fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked, and salted varieties, as well as pig by-products such as ears, snouts, and feet.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said the tariffs follow an “objective, fair, and impartial” investigation into EU pork imports. The probe concluded that EU exporters were allegedly selling pork below production costs or domestic market prices, harming China’s domestic pork industry. This action comes in response to the EU’s earlier imposition of provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Preliminary anti-dumping duties were introduced in September, ranging from 15.6 per cent to 32.7 per cent for EU companies cooperating with the investigation, and up to 62.4 per cent for non-cooperating firms. The new final rates are expected to impact major exporters, particularly Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, which are key suppliers of pork and pig by-products to China.

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The EU has been a major pork exporter to China, with exports peaking at €7.4 billion ($7.9 billion) in 2020. Imports surged during that period as China sought to rebuild its pig herds after a swine disease outbreak. However, Beijing has gradually reduced imports as domestic production has recovered.

This move adds to a series of anti-dumping measures Beijing has applied to European goods, including brandy, particularly French cognac, and certain dairy products. While some producers received exemptions, the tariffs reflect ongoing trade tensions and China’s efforts to protect domestic industries.

Economists predict that the new duties could widen the EU’s already substantial trade deficit with China, which exceeded €300 billion ($348 billion) last year. The tariffs are likely to affect European pork producers’ competitiveness in China and may prompt the EU to explore alternative markets or negotiate trade remedies.

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