Belgium has been hit hard by the provisional anti-dumping duties imposed by China on European pork (see EUROPE 13703/13). The country exports pork that is not consumed on the European market, and is currently subject to a provisional tariff of 62.4%. Belgian companies inherited the rate applied to companies that did not cooperate with the survey.
Because of an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018 and an embargo in place until February 2024, Belgian exporters were unable to take part in the Chinese investigation and are therefore subject to the duty rate applicable to non-cooperating companies, Belgium explained on Wednesday 12 November in a note to the other 26 EU countries.
If the provisional rate is confirmed at the end of the survey, “it is anticipated that trade will be brought to a halt, which will result in the loss of essential premium that frequently dictates profitability for pig farmers”, say the authors of the note.
Belgium is therefore calling on the Commission to step up its efforts to find a solution and prevent the trade dispute from escalating.
Spain, which has also been hard hit by the Chinese measure on pork, has long been calling for a diplomatic solution to the trade disputes between the EU and China.
Belgium is also asking for the tariff burden to be shared between EU Member States. If this were not the case, the Commission would have to consider emergency measures and support programmes for the sectors affected, says Belgium.
See note: https://aeur.eu/f/jha (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)