China Expands Access for Spanish Pork Amid Tariff War
BEIJING/MADRID, April 11 (Reuters) – China has signed two agricultural trade protocols with Spain covering pork and cherries as the world’s second largest economy seeks to strengthen ties with the European Union amidst an escalating trade war with the United States. The deal was announced on Friday by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing.
This agreement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, which led China to raise its own duties on U.S. goods to 125%. The National Association of Spanish Meat Industries (ANICE) welcomed the deal, stating, “In a context of enormous international commercial turbulence, derived from the tariff crisis, we welcome with optimism and hope this new gesture from the Asian giant, which is opening up new options for the supply of pork products.”
The new trade protocols include the export of pork stomachs, a product widely consumed in China but not previously authorised for import. Daniel de Miguel, international manager of Interporc, Spain’s pork producers association, highlighted the significance of this inclusion.
Analysts view the deal as a potential indication that Beijing might ease its anti-dumping inquiry into EU pork, which was launched last year in retaliation for EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. This investigation could severely impact countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as a large portion of the EU’s pork exports to China consist of pig ears, noses, feet, and offal—products that are not commonly consumed in Europe but are popular in China.
“This is great news for Spain’s pig farmers,” said Even Rogers Pay, an agriculture analyst at Trivium China. “It suggests regulators may delay or ease the pork investigation, as they recently did with brandy.”
The agreement between China and Spain is seen as a strategic move to bolster economic ties with the EU and mitigate the impact of the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S.
Original story: Reuters
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