China has extended its investigation into imported pork from the EU by six months, in what is being seen as a positive sign by the EU pork sector.
The investigation was launched a year ago in retaliation for the imposition of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports and is focused on major producers, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, responsible for over $2 billion in pork exports.
Days before the investigation was due to be completed, China’s commerce ministry has announced it is extending the investigation period to December 16 due to the ‘complexity of the case.
The decision to delay comes as China and the EU close in on a deal over the EV tariffs, while Beijing has already extended its anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy and offered to speed up rare earth magnet export licenses for European firms, Reuters reports.
China imported $4.8 billion worth of pork, including offal, in 2024 – over half of it from the EU, with Spain the biggest exporter.
The decision also comes as the China and the US remain embroiled in a trade dispute, sparked by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Cautious welcome
Reuters reports that the extension of the probe was cautiously welcomed by EU pig industry representatives.
“We’d rather that they take the time for consultations before any decision,” said Anne Richard, director of French pork industry association INAPORC.
However, Giuseppe Aloisio, director general of Spain’s meat industry association ANICE, said the prolonging of the probe ‘means six more months of waiting, which means the cloud hanging over us will remain’, but added that ‘we remain confident and calm’.
In April, China expanded access for Spanish cherries and some pork products.