China’s Anti-Dumping Investigation on Pork Imports From Europe: A Calibrated Retaliation

Abstract

This case study explores China’s ongoing retaliation against the EU through an anti-dumping investigation of EU pork, after the EU conducted an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-produced electric vehicles (EVs). China’s pork probe aimed to sway key EU Council votes on EV tariffs, targeting Spain as the largest pork exporter—especially of offal, which is difficult to export elsewhere. Furthermore, China considered Spain particularly vulnerable to its influence because of its ambition to receive investment from China into green technology sectors, including EV and battery factories. We find this case instructive, as a continuation of China’s policy to pit the economic interests of EU Member States against one another, with negative consequences for the EU’s overall leverage. A policy recommendation to be drawn from this case study is for the EU to build internal protection against Member States playing against EU-level interests in trade and investment.