China’s Commerce Ministry declared Tuesday that it will levy tariffs of up to 19.8% on pork imports from the European Union, significantly lowering the initially proposed rate of 62.4%.
The decision came after China launched an investigation into EU pork imports, following the bloc’s move to impose provisional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
Starting Wednesday, the tariffs, which vary between 4.9% and 19.8% depending on the company, will be enforced for five years, the Commerce Ministry said.
The final tariff rates are much lower than those in the preliminary ruling from September, when EU pork producers faced deposit rates of up to 62.4%.
The duties will apply to products such as fresh, chilled, and frozen pork, along with pork offal, pig fat without lean meat, and pig intestines, bladders, and stomachs, according to the ministry.
Beijing initiated the anti-dumping investigation into European pork products in June of last year.
China’s Commerce Ministry determined that the EU was dumping pork and pig by-products in the Chinese market by selling them at prices below production costs or domestic prices, causing harm to China’s pork sector.
Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark are expected to bear the most impact.
Beijing has also imposed anti-dumping tariffs on European brandy, particularly French cognac, although leading producers were granted exemptions.
EU dairy imports were also investigated under anti-dumping measures.
The European Union recorded a huge trade deficit with China last year, exceeding 300 billion euros ($348 billion). Despite this, the bloc remains a leading exporter of pork and an important supplier of byproducts, including ears, snouts, feet, and other parts regarded as delicacies in China.
China is the biggest consumer of pork worldwide, with annual consumption reaching around 700 million hogs—roughly half of global output.
Between 2020 and 2023, the EU was China’s largest supplier of pork and pork products, making up about 54% of total imports, according to the China Animal Agriculture Association, citing Chinese customs data.
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