By Mei Mei Chu
BEIJING (Reuters) -China has opened an anti-dumping investigation into imported pork and its by-products from the European Union, a step that appears mainly aimed at Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, in response to curbs on its electric vehicle exports.
Below are details on the probe into EU pork imports and other industries that may be subjected to similar investigations.
PORK
The investigation announced by China's commerce ministry on Monday will focus on pork intended for human consumption, such as fresh, cold and frozen whole cuts, as well as pig intestines, bladders and stomachs. The probe will begin on June 17.
It was prompted by a complaint submitted by the China Animal Husbandry Association on June 6 on behalf of the domestic pork industry, the ministry said.
Pork suppliers from South America, the U.S. and Russia could be among those gaining market share if Beijing restricts imports from the European Union.
The EU accounts for more than half the roughly $6 billion worth of pork China imported in 2023, according to customs data, around a quarter of which was from Spain alone.
Second- and third-ranking, the Netherlands and Denmark last year exported to China pork products worth $620 million and $550 million respectively.
DAIRY
Chinese firms plan to ask authorities to open an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of some dairy products from the EU, the Global Times said on June 8.
It remains unclear which products China could target.
Whey powder, cream and fresh milk were the top items in the EU's 1.7 billion euros ($1.8 billion) worth of dairy exports to China last year, according to data from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, which cited Eurostat.
CARS
China should hike its import tariffs on large gasoline-powered cars to 25%, a government-affiliated auto research body expert told the Global Times in May. China's current import tariff for cars is 15%.
A higher duty for cars with larger engines would hit principally German carmakers that export SUVs and sedans to China.
BRANDY
Beijing in January opened an anti-dumping investigation on brandy imported from the EU, a step that appears to be mainly targeted at France. Almost all European brandy exported to China is made in France.
The investigation will focus on brandy in containers of less than 200 litres (44 British gallons).
PLASTIC
In May, Beijing launched an anti-dumping probe into POM copolymers, a type of engineering plastic, imported from the EU, U.S., Japan and Taiwan.