Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - China has announced that it will introduce anti-dumping duties on pork imports from the European Union for a period of five years, though at reduced rates compared to the provisional tariffs imposed earlier this year.
Beijing said the decision followed the conclusion of an
investigation launched last year, which found that European pork imports were
harming China’s domestic industry. In a statement released on Tuesday, December
16, the commerce ministry said European pork products “were being dumped, and
the domestic industry suffered substantial damages” as a result.
Under the new policy, duties will range between 4.9 percent
and 19.8 percent, a significant reduction from the temporary levies of between
15.6 percent and 62.4 percent that have been in place since September. The
revised tariffs will take effect from December 17.
Commenting on the move, a commerce ministry spokesperson
said, “At present, the domestic industry is facing difficulties, and there are
strong calls for protection.” The spokesperson added that the findings of the
investigation were “objective, fair, and impartial”.
The decision comes amid ongoing trade tensions between China
and the European Union, with many European governments complaining about what
they see as an uneven economic relationship. The EU recorded a trade deficit of
more than 350 billion dollars with China in 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned that Europe
could adopt tougher measures against China, including tariffs, if the imbalance
is not addressed.
The current dispute intensified last summer after the EU
moved toward imposing heavy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that
state subsidies in China unfairly disadvantaged European manufacturers. Beijing
rejected those claims and responded by opening investigations into European
imports of pork, brandy, and dairy products, widely viewed as retaliatory
steps.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of pork and
imported pork products worth 4.3 billion yuan from Spain alone last year,
according to Chinese customs data. France exported about 115,000 tonnes of pork
to China in 2024, based on figures from industry group Inaporc.
Under the new duty structure, major producers will face
varying rates, with France’s Groupe Bigard set to pay 9.8 percent, while
Denmark’s Danish Crown will be charged 18.6 percent.
European pork producers have pushed back against the
measures, especially the temporary duties imposed in September, rejecting
accusations of dumping. They argue that Chinese consumers often pay higher
prices for cuts such as pig trotters and ears, which are less valued in Europe.
Beyond trade disputes, China and the EU also remain divided
over geopolitical issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While
the EU has urged Beijing to pressure Moscow to end the war, China has so far
shown little willingness to do so.
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