The pig sector warns of possible retaliation for the imposition of tariffs in the EU on Chinese electric vehicles

The Meat Business Association (Anafric) warned on Friday of the consequences that the European pork sector, especially the Spanish one, will suffer due to China’s retaliation if the European Union finally imposes tariffs on electric vehicles manufactured in the Asian ‘giant’.

The imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles was approved this Friday by the ‘twenty-seven’ with only 10 votes in favour, five against and 12 abstentions, including Spain. If there is no agreement with China by the end of the month, Chinese manufacturers would suffer tariffs of up to 35%.

The European Commission’s decision to investigate subsidised Chinese electric cars, which began in 2023, has triggered retaliation in the form of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against key EU products, including pork, dairy products and spirits. “This could have a direct impact on our exports to China, one of the main markets for the Spanish pork sector,” Anafric warned.

“At Anafric we insist that the only way to address this conflict is through negotiations between the European Union and China. Our sector cannot bear the consequences of a trade battle between the EU and China for control of the markets. It is essential that diplomatic solutions are found to prevent the European meat industry, and in particular the Spanish one, from being negatively affected,” said the president of Anafric, José Friguls.

The European Commission and China are continuing discussions to explore solutions that are compatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to the statement issued by the Commission. However, if an agreement is not reached by 30 October 2024, an Implementing Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the EU containing the final findings of the investigation.

In this context, Anafric has expressed its “commitment” to defend the interests of the pig sector and to closely monitor developments in this matter “to ensure that the impact on our exports is as small as possible.”