On September 6, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced the implementation of preliminary anti-dumping measures on pork and pork by-products imported from the European Union, with deposit rates reaching up to 62.4%, covering exports valued at over USD 2 billion.
Key Reactions:
Spain – Anice: Expressed surprise and concern, noting that declining domestic demand and oversupply are weakening the competitiveness of Spanish exporters in China. Anice emphasized the need to monitor the specific impact of these temporary tariffs on Spanish exports and the European Commission’s response within the WTO framework.
Spanish Government: Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas called for dialogue to resolve the China-EU pork tariff dispute and expressed willingness to support the industry.
Netherlands – COV: Reported shock over the tariffs, stressing their negative impact on Dutch pork sales in China and ongoing consultations with the government to clarify export barriers.
Corporate Perspective – De Wit: Disagrees with China’s allegations of dumping by Dutch companies, highlighting that China is an important growth and premium market for parts of the pig that are little consumed in the EU. De Wit noted that the measures will increase EU pork prices in China and erode competitiveness relative to Brazil and Russia, while the US remains engaged in a trade dispute with China. The precise impact is still unclear.
Belgium – Febev: Pointed out that the tariffs will affect pig slaughtering value and export revenues of pork by-products, and may disrupt shipments already in transit, causing direct financial impacts for exporters.
European Commission: Emphasized that the measures occur within a complex geopolitical context, making a rapid resolution unlikely in the short term, but reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue to ease trade tensions.
These preliminary anti-dumping measures not only directly impact EU pork exports but could also affect global trade dynamics in the coming months. Reactions from stakeholders indicate that, although short-term negotiations may have limited prospects, sustained dialogue and communication remain crucial for mitigating trade tensions.