China has imposed anti-dumping tariffs of up to 18.9% on pork imports from the EU

China Its commerce ministry said on Tuesday it would impose tariffs of up to 19.8% on pork imports from the EU, a steep drop from the initial tariff of 62.4%.

The ministry’s announcement came after an investigation Sugar The surge in pork imports from the trade bloc came after the European Union imposed provisional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Beijing Anti-dumping duty also imposed on European brandies, especially produced cognac FranceHowever, major brandy producers received exemptions. Similarly, imports of dairy products from the EU were also subject to anti-dumping investigation.

The EU faces a massive trade deficit with China: more than 300 billion euros ($348 billion) last year. However, the trading block is a major exporter of pork and a major supplier of by-products such as ears, snout, feet and other items considered delicacies in China.

In September, China ordered the imposition of preliminary anti-dumping duties ranging from 15.6% to 32.7% for pork imports as security deposits and 62.4% for all others from EU companies cooperating in the anti-dumping investigation.

China’s Ministry of Commerce concluded that the EU was dumping pork and pig by-products into China, selling them at prices below production cost or domestic market prices, and harming China’s pork industry. The final tariff rates of 4.9%-19.8% will take effect from Wednesday and last for five years.

spainThe Netherlands and Denmark will be most affected.

The Commerce Ministry said the new tariffs will apply to all types of pork products, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked or salted.

It said it had reached its conclusions “in an objective, fair and impartial manner”.

EU exports of pork products to China reached 7.4 billion euros ($7.9 billion) in 2020 after Beijing began importing to meet domestic demand after its pig farms were devastated by swine disease. But it has reduced imports as it has rebuilt its herds.