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China will impose anti-dumping duties on European Union pork imports for five years starting December 17, the commerce ministry announced Tuesday, though at significantly reduced rates compared to temporary measures imposed in September.
The duties will range from 4.9 percent to 19.8 percent, down sharply from temporary levies of 15.6 percent to 62.4 percent that have been in place for the past three months. The decision follows an investigation China launched last year that concluded European pork imports were being dumped into Chinese markets, causing substantial damage to domestic producers.
The measure escalates ongoing trade tensions between the world's two largest economic blocs, with European officials viewing the duties as retaliation for EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles rather than legitimate trade protection.
Spain, Europe's leading pork producer, will face an average duty of 9.8 percent, well below the overall 19 percent average. Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas called the measures "acceptable" and said the result had been "minimised" for his country's exporters.
China imported 4.3 billion yuan ($600 million) in pork products from Spain alone last year, according to official Chinese customs data. France exported 115,000 tonnes of pork to China in 2024, making both countries significant suppliers to the world's largest pork consumer.
Individual producers will face varying rates under the new structure. French pork producer Groupe Bigard will be charged 9.8 percent, while Danish Crown faces an 18.6 percent levy.
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European meat industry representatives sharply criticized the Chinese decision, arguing their sector has become collateral damage in a dispute over electric vehicles.
"It was unacceptable that our sector is used as a bargaining chip in a trade dispute — that of electric vehicles — that has absolutely nothing to do with us," said Giuseppe Aloisio, general director of Spanish meat industry association Anice. He called the measure "unfair" and said it "punishes an exemplary industry for no reason."
A Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson defended the investigation's findings as "objective, fair, and impartial," noting that domestic industry faces difficulties and has strong calls for protection.
European producers have previously denied dumping allegations, arguing that Chinese consumers pay premium prices for products like pigs' trotters and ears that European markets typically ignore.
The pork duties represent the latest development in deteriorating trade relations between China and the European Union. The dispute intensified last summer when the EU moved toward imposing substantial tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that Beijing's subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors.
China responded by launching what observers widely viewed as retaliatory investigations into European pork, brandy and dairy products. The EU ran a trade deficit exceeding $350 billion with China in 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this month that Europe would consider adopting strong measures against China, including tariffs, if the trade imbalance remains unaddressed. Beyond trade frictions, China and the EU are at odds over issues including Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with the EU urging Beijing to pressure Moscow to end the conflict.
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