China Slaps Duties on EU Pork Imports

China has imposed preliminary duties on pork imports from the European Union, a move set to disrupt shipments from one of the world’s biggest suppliers and further stoke trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing, reports Bloomberg. Major pork exporters Danish Crown A/S and some units of Vion Food Group face duties of 31.3% and 32.7% respectively, according to the ruling. It will be paid as a deposit until the duties are finalized. The duties come as China struggles with a domestic oversupply of pork and sluggish consumption amid a sustained economic downturn. China will impose preliminary levies ranging from 15.6% to 62.4% on cargoes of the meat, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. China accused European companies of dumping certain pork and pig by-products and said its domestic industry has “suffered material injury.” The EU is one of the world’s top pork exporters, second only to the U.S.
More from Pro Farmer.