China Slaps Five-Year Anti-Dumping Duties on EU Pork as Trade Tensions Deepen

China will impose anti-dumping duties on pork imports from the European Union for the next five years. However, the new rates are lower than the temporary levies introduced in September. Beijing announced the decision on Tuesday, signaling another turn in the ongoing trade dispute between the two major partners.

The duties will range from 4.9 percent to 19.8 percent. This marks a sharp drop from the earlier temporary rates of between 15.6 percent and 62.4 percent. The measures will take effect from December 17, according to China’s commerce ministry. Officials said the decision followed a year-long investigation into European pork imports.

The probe concluded that EU pork products were being dumped in the Chinese market. As a result, the domestic pork industry suffered significant harm. A commerce ministry spokesperson said local producers are facing serious challenges. They added that there were strong calls for protection. The spokesperson also insisted the investigation was objective, fair, and impartial.

The move comes amid wider trade tensions between China and the EU. Many European states argue that economic ties with Beijing remain unbalanced. In 2024, the EU recorded a trade deficit of more than $350 billion with China. As a result, pressure has been growing on both sides.

The dispute escalated last summer. The EU moved toward imposing heavy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. European officials claimed Chinese subsidies gave carmakers an unfair advantage. Beijing rejected the accusation. Soon after, it launched probes into European pork, brandy, and dairy products. Many saw the investigations as retaliatory.

China remains the world’s largest consumer of pork. Last year, it imported pork products worth 4.3 billion yuan from Spain alone. France also plays a major role. It exported 115,000 tonnes of pork to China in 2024. Under the new duties, French producer Groupe Bigard will face a 9.8 percent levy. Danish Crown will be charged 18.6 percent.

European producers have pushed back. They deny dumping claims. They argue Chinese consumers often pay more for cuts Europeans rarely eat, such as trotters and ears. Beyond trade, tensions persist over geopolitics. The EU continues to urge China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Beijing, however, has shown little willingness to shift its position.