Chinese response to EU tariffs on electric cars? Responding to EU threats to impose tariffs on Chinese electric car imports, Beijing has announced an anti-dumping investigation into European pork imports. Pork is particularly popular in China. Indicatively, in 2023 China procured $6 billion worth of pork from abroad, with more than half of imports coming from the EU.

EU-China negotiations to find a solution to the threatened trade war are expected to continue until early July. The talks center on complaints by Europeans that subsidies on Chinese goods distort competition.

EE: To comply with the current rules

Spain is China’s largest European supplier of pork, with exports of around 1.5 billion euros, followed by the Netherlands and Denmark. Chinese anti-dumping investigation plans do not appear to worry Spanish producers. The head of the Interporc association Alberto Geranth tells Reuters TV: “When the Russian market was closed we did not complain to the EU or the responsible minister. Instead, we went further in pursuit of diversification. We are able to face new challenges, overcome difficulties and turn difficulties into opportunities”.

The Italian producers of pork meat and by-products are also dealing with the situation coolly. Sellers in delicatessens and shops that specialize in pork tell Reuters TV that they are not worried about exports to China. Among them is salesman Bruno, who works in a shop in Rome: “I don’t think any measures from Beijing would hurt Italian exports. And this is because we sell significant quantities of pork and canned products in many countries of the world.”

Brussels also reacts calmly to China’s announcements. A European Commission spokesman said the EU would ensure that any investigation would be conducted in accordance with all World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Reuters TV, dpa