Beijing (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – China extended on Tuesday a high-profile investigation into imported pork from the European Union by six months, days before it was due to wrap up and as negotiators from the EU and Beijing carve out a deal over the bloc’s electric vehicle tariffs.
China and the European Union are close to striking a deal on tariffs, which is why the decision to delay has been made. Beijing has already extended its anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy and offered to expedite rare earth magnet export licenses for European companies.
China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, has decided to extend the investigation period until 16 December due to the case’s complexity, according to a statement on the country’s commerce ministry website.
Is the pork investigation linked to EV tariff talks?
The investigation, which was started in June of last year, has affected more than $2 billion in pork exports, mostly from big producers like Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It is generally believed to be retribution for EU levies on Chinese electric car exports.
In reaction to restrictions on its exports of electric vehicles, China launched an anti-dumping probe into imported pork and its byproducts from the European Union, seemingly targeting Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark in particular.
What EU pork products are targeted by China’s investigation?
The probe, which was announced by China’s commerce ministry, would concentrate on pig intestines, bladders, and stomachs as well as pork meant for human consumption, including fresh, cold, and frozen entire cuts. The investigation was set to start on June 17. Offal, including pig ears, noses, and feet, makes up a sizable amount of the bloc’s pork supplies to China. These items are highly prized in Chinese cooking, but there aren’t many substitutes if that market is shut off.
More than half of the $4.8 billion worth of pork, including offal, that China purchased in 2024 came from the EU, with Spain topping the group in terms of volume of shipments. China increased access to Spanish cherries and other pork products in April, a move that producers and experts said showed Beijing was amenable to a resolution over its larger pork probe.
