The issue concerns an anti-dumping investigation launched by China on June 17, 2024, into fresh, chilled, and frozen pork and pork products originating from EU member states. Beijing initially planned to conclude the investigation in 2025, but the procedure has now been extended until December 16, 2025.
On September 5, China published its preliminary findings, which, according to Beijing, confirm dumping practices by European exporters. Just days later, on September 10, provisional anti-dumping tariffs were imposed, with rates varying significantly depending on whether companies cooperated with the investigation:
- 15.6%–32.7% for cooperating companies;
- 62.4% for non-cooperating companies or those not included in the initial sample.
Belgium fell into the latter category and received the maximum tariff of 62.4%, effectively making pork exports to China impossible. The reason is the long-standing import ban imposed by China after Belgium’s ASF outbreak in 2018, which prevented the country from participating in the investigation.
Brussels stressed that although Belgium is the most severely affected, the situation poses a threat to all EU pork exporters. A tariff mechanism that differentiates by country and company risks undermining solidarity within the EU pork sector and distorting competition on the internal market.
Belgium therefore called on the European Commission to:
- strengthen diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of the trade conflict;
- ensure equal treatment for all member states within the Chinese investigation;
- consider support or emergency measures if unequal market conditions persist.
The Belgian government emphasized that only a unified EU response can prevent further distortions in the European pork market and safeguard the sector’s stability amid rising trade tensions with China.
PigUA.info based on materials from thepigsite.com