The Chinese authorities have announced they will impose provisional anti-dumping duties on pork and by-products from the EU. European exporters will lose a significant portion of their competitive position in the Chinese market. This market is very important for countries that traditionally export large quantities of pork to China.
According to Beijing, the tariffs are to prevent European exporters from selling their products at excessively low prices in China. At the same time, the government in Beijing aims to encourage consumption of domestically produced meat. For the European sector, which heavily depends on exports to Asia, this step could have major economic consequences.
The timing is remarkable. Shortly before, the EU decided to impose additional import duties on Chinese electric cars and parts. Brussels argues that Chinese manufacturers compete unfairly because they can offer their vehicles in EU countries far below cost thanks to Chinese state support. To protect the European automotive industry, strong measures were therefore introduced.
The EU has long complained about the dumping of cheap Chinese products. These often enter the European market at dumping prices and frequently fail to meet European environmental standards. This pressure impacts not only the industry but also political relations. The new tariffs on pork mark a clear signal that China will not simply comply with European sanctions.
This measure could hit European farmers and meat processors hard. China is the world's largest market for pork. Due to the higher import tariffs, demand for European products risks a sharp decline, while Chinese producers are given more space. The sector fears significant price drops and an oversupply on the European market.
At the request of BBB Member of the European Parliament Jessika van Leeuwen, the European Parliament has decided to hold a debate on the Chinese sanctions on Wednesday. She calls these tariffs, which will take effect September 10, 2025, a serious threat to European pig farmers, the processing industry, and the internal market.
Van Leeuwen is a member of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee that deals with this issue. She describes it as 'crucial that the European Commission acts swiftly to support our farmers.' However, the European Parliament actually has little influence over this matter.
The new step from Beijing comes at a time when Europe is tightening its trade strategy. The United States has also recently imposed higher import tariffs on numerous European products. The EU wants to prevent its companies from becoming pawns in the global trade war and is therefore actively seeking new markets.
Recently, Brussels concluded trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. With this diversification, the Union aims to make its exports less dependent on a few major partners. Additionally, a decision on a comprehensive agreement with four South American countries is planned soon. This is intended to provide extra opportunities for both agriculture and industry.
Whether this escalation is temporary or will lead to a long-lasting European-Chinese trade war remains to be seen. For now, the European pig farming sector appears to be the first major loser in the battle between Brussels and Beijing.