MACRON to press XI on protecting French dairy exports to China

Thursday, December 4, 2025 -French President Emmanuel Macron is heading into critical talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing — and at the top of his agenda: defending French dairy and pork exports from Chinese‑imposed tariffs.

Macron’s push comes against a backdrop of rising trade tension between China and the European Union. Over the past few years, Chinese authorities have launched investigations and considered import restrictions on foreign dairy, pork, and other sensitive food products — moves that threaten a major source of revenue for French farmers and food producers.

The stakes are high: China represents one of France’s largest non‑EU export markets for dairy and pork products. Macron is using his state visit — accompanied by top executives from French agriculture and food companies — to press for “fair and reciprocal market access,” warning Beijing that abrupt policy changes could jeopardize thousands of jobs and destabilize supply chains.