74
China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that it will impose temporary import duties on pork and pig by-products from the European Union (EU), citing evidence of dumping.
The announcement, made on Friday, follows an anti-dumping investigation launched by Beijing last year after Brussels began scrutinising Chinese state subsidies for its electric vehicle industry.
According to the ministry’s statement, investigating authorities have preliminarily determined that pork imports from the EU were being sold in China at unfairly low prices, a practice known as dumping.
As a result, China will implement provisional anti-dumping measures in the form of security deposits on EU pork shipments. The duties will range from 15.6 percent to 62.4 percent and are set to take effect from September 10.
The measures remain provisional, pending the conclusion of the full investigation, which has been extended until December.
The decision is seen as a significant development in the tense trade relationship between China and the EU. It also marks one of the latest examples of how disputes over subsidies, tariffs, and geopolitical issues are reshaping global trade dynamics.
In recent years, relations between Beijing and Brussels have grown more complicated, particularly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The EU has been critical of China’s position on the war, as Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow or demand its withdrawal from Ukraine.
Western allies of Ukraine believe that China has indirectly supported Russia, even as Beijing insists it is a neutral party. China frequently calls for peace talks while accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by supplying weapons to Kyiv.
Earlier on Friday, China’s foreign ministry also responded to comments from US President Donald Trump, who called on European leaders to apply economic pressure on Beijing over the Ukraine war. The ministry said it “strongly opposes” Trump’s call, describing it as interference in China’s external relations.
The EU, for its part, has vowed to defend its pork industry against the new Chinese measures. The bloc is a major exporter of pork to China, one of the world’s largest consumers of the meat. Trade analysts warn that the duties could disrupt supply chains, raise costs for Chinese importers, and potentially spark retaliatory action from Brussels.
For China, the decision to impose duties comes at a time when it is seeking to protect domestic producers amid slowing economic growth and rising competition in key sectors. Pork is a staple in the Chinese diet, and local farmers have long complained of the pressure posed by cheaper imports from Europe.
Trade experts note that the latest move adds another layer to the ongoing disputes between Beijing and the EU, which already include investigations into electric vehicles, subsidies, and technology transfers.
The provisional duties will remain in place while Chinese investigators continue to assess the extent of the alleged dumping. A final ruling will determine whether the duties become permanent.
Observers say the situation underscores the increasing use of trade measures as tools of economic and political influence in a world where alliances are shifting and disputes are increasingly linked to geopolitics.
For now, Chinese importers will face higher costs on EU pork, while European exporters will have to weigh the impact of losing competitiveness in one of their most important overseas markets.
