(EU) China launches anti-dumping investigation against EU pork and pig by-products

The Ministry of Commerce of China issued Announcement No. 23 of 2024 on June 17, deciding to initiate an anti-dumping investigation on imports of related pork and pig by-products originating in the European Union. This case should be filed on the basis of the application submitted by the China Animal Husbandry Association on behalf of the domestic industry. The dumping investigation period is from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and the industry injury investigation period is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023.

The products under investigation include fresh, cold and frozen pork, edible pig offal, fat pork, pig fat and pig casings and other by-products, involving multiple tariff numbers. The EU is an important source of imports of pork and pig by-products from China, while Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands are the main exporters to China.

The timing of the launch of the case has attracted much attention: the European Union is launching a countervailing investigation into Chinese electric vehicles and is planning to impose tariffs, and public opinion generally regards the pork case as part of China's corresponding countermeasures. Spain is the largest pork exporter to China within the European Union, and the local industry has expressed concerns about losing the Chinese market.

According to the procedure, anti-dumping investigations should generally be completed within one year after the filing of the case, and can be extended for six months under special circumstances. The industry believes that the trend of the investigation is closely related to the evolution of the EU's measures on China's electric vehicles, and the progress of China EU economic and trade consultations will directly affect the final handling of the case.

Source: China Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 23, 2024; Reuters, June 17, 2024.