Beijing, September 5, 2025 – China has announced sweeping anti-dumping duties on pork imports from the European Union, intensifying a growing trade dispute between the two economic powers. The Ministry of Commerce confirmed that preliminary tariffs ranging from 15.6% to 62.4% will take effect on September 10, following an investigation into alleged unfair pricing practices by European exporters.
Impact on Major Exporters
The decision directly targets top EU pork suppliers, including Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Exporters who cooperated with Beijing’s investigation will face lower tariff rates, while those who declined participation will be hit with the maximum duty of 62.4%. The measure is expected to significantly disrupt one of Europe’s most important agricultural trade flows, as China remains the world’s largest pork consumer.
Retaliation Over Trade Tensions
Analysts see the move as a retaliation against the European Union’s recent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. The two sides have been embroiled in a series of tit-for-tat trade measures spanning industries from renewable energy to luxury goods. Pork, a politically sensitive product in both regions, has now become the latest flashpoint.
Challenges for Europe’s Farmers
The EU pork industry has already seen exports to China fall sharply in recent years, dropping from around 3.6 million tonnes in 2020 to just over 1 million tonnes in 2024. Farmers across Europe now face the prospect of further losses, as higher duties threaten to price their products out of the Chinese market. With domestic costs rising and alternative markets still limited, producers warn of severe economic consequences if the dispute continues.
What Lies Ahead
China’s investigation is set to conclude in December, leaving a small window for negotiations. European officials have criticized Beijing’s methods as politically motivated, while farmers’ unions are urging the EU to provide emergency support. The outcome of this standoff could reshape agricultural trade between Europe and Asia for years to come.
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