China has opened an anti-dumping investigation into European pork imports

China announced it had launched an investigation “anti-dumping” on imports of pork and pork products from the European Union, Monday June 17. The investigation follows a request “officially submitted by the China Livestock Association on behalf of the domestic pig industry”, specified the Ministry of Commerce. This announcement comes against a backdrop of growing trade tensions between China and the European Union.

The EU declared on June 12 that it would impose additional customs duties on imports of Chinese electric vehicles from next month, following an investigation into “unfair subsidies” opened in September 2023. Beijing then immediately denounced “purely protectionist behavior” of Europeans, via a press release from the Ministry of Commerce. China had warned that it would take “all measures to firmly defend their legitimate rights”.

In January, it had already opened an anti-dumping investigation into European brandies, including French cognac. Launched after a complaint from Chinese alcohol professionals, this procedure is also considered by observers as a retaliatory measure in response to the European investigation into subsidies for electric cars produced in China, largely supported by France. China, on the occasion of its President Xi Jinping’s visit to France at the beginning of May, nevertheless gave some guarantees to Paris by committing to facilitate access to certain French products, including pork intestines.