China puts anti-dumping tariff of up to 19.8% on imports of pork from the EU

Core Viewpoint - China has significantly reduced tariffs on pork imports from the European Union, now set at up to 19.8%, down from preliminary tariffs of up to 62.4% following an investigation into EU's trade practices [1][4]. Group 1: Tariff Changes - The final tariff rates for pork imports from the EU will range from 4.9% to 19.8%, effective for five years starting Wednesday [4]. - The initial anti-dumping duties imposed in September ranged from 15.6% to 32.7% for EU companies involved in the investigation, with a maximum of 62.4% for others [3]. Group 2: Trade Context - The EU has a significant trade deficit with China, exceeding 300 billion euros ($348 billion) last year, while being a major exporter of pork and related byproducts to China [2]. - EU pork exports to China reached a peak of 7.4 billion euros ($7.9 billion) in 2020, driven by China's need for imports due to domestic supply issues caused by a swine disease [5]. Group 3: Investigation Findings - China's Commerce Ministry concluded that the EU was dumping pork and pig by-products in China, selling them below production costs, which harmed the domestic pork industry [4]. - The new tariffs will apply to all types of pork products, including fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked, or salted [4].