China sets import duties on European pork for the next 5 years
China subjected pork from the European Union at the beginning of September to import tariffs of 15.6 and 62.4 percent. It was a temporary measure pending an anti-dumping investigation. Now Beijing has completed that investigation and has announced the final anti-dumping duties: from now on they range between 4.9 and 19.8 percent.
For Belgium, the maximum levy of 62.4 percent applied until recently; now, according to the federation of the Belgian meat sector (Febev), it is still 9.8 percent.
“This decision is good news for the pork sector and provides a clear operational framework,” responds Febev CEO Michael Gore. “However, we will continue to closely monitor the case in the coming period.” The Boerenbond emphasizes that the Chinese tariff of 62.4 percent in fact led to a halt in exports to China. The fact that customs duties are now falling significantly “is particularly good news,” says chairman Lode Ceyssens.
Despite its limited size, Belgium is a relatively large player in the sector, with an annual production of roughly 1 million tons of pork, the bulk of which is exported. Exports to China – about 15,000 tons per year – mainly concern parts of the pig that are less popular at home, such as feet and ears, but are considered a delicacy in China. In the first nine months of 2025, Belgian exports to China were worth almost 20 million euros, according to Febev.
China opened its market to Belgian pork companies in 2012. In 2018, an embargo on Belgian pork was suddenly imposed as a result of African swine fever, which was only lifted at the beginning of 2024.
(Brussels, 16 December 2025)
