Officials prepare for the arrival of China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and EU Executive Vice President for Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition Teresa Rivera on the occasion of the 6th China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue (HECD) held at the Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing on July 14, 2025.
Wang Zhao | AFP | Getty Images
China on Tuesday announced lower tariffs on pork imports and pork by-products from the European Union, following the conclusion of a year-long anti-dumping investigation into European pork imports.
The new tariffs on dozens of European pork exporters range from 4.9% to 19.8% and will go into effect on Wednesday and last for five years, China’s Ministry of Commerce said.
In early September, China imposed temporary anti-dumping duties of up to 62.4% on pork imports from the EU in the form of cash deposits.
Trade tensions escalated last October when Brussels imposed tariffs of up to 45% on electric cars imported from China, with Beijing accusing the country of protectionism.
China launched an anti-dumping investigation in June last year as part of its response to EU punitive measures against the EV sector.
The EU is the world’s largest pork exporter, selling about 13% of its annual production overseas, with China the single largest buyer, according to S&P Global estimates.
European leaders have criticized a widening trade imbalance between Beijing and its major trading partners, including the European Union, as tariff tensions with Washington prompt Chinese exporters to divert shipments to markets outside the United States.
China’s trade surplus reached an annual record of more than $1 trillion as of November.
Due to the Chinese government’s restrictions on rare earth exports, several European manufacturers seeking to diversify their supply chains from China were also at risk of running out of the critical mineral. A deal China signed with the United States in late October has reportedly eased some concerns, with the Chinese government reportedly starting to grant permission for such exports.
The EU and China are also at loggerheads over semiconductor exports after the Netherlands took control of Chinese-owned Nexperia, which is based in the country. Last week, the Chinese government asked the Dutch government to send a delegation to China for further negotiations.
