China sets tariffs on Catalan pork exporting companies at 9.8%

The People's Republic of China has published the definitive tariffs that will apply to imports of pork meat and by-products from the European Union over the next five years. For Catalan companies and most Spanish companies, the levy has been set at 9.8%, a figure appreciably lower than the maximum rate of 19.8% that will affect other European operators and far below the provisional tariffs which, in some cases, had exceeded 60%. The decision comes after an investigation opened by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) into alleged unfair competition by European companies. 

The final impact on the Catalan sector has been more moderate than initially expected. The definitive tariffs are far from the 20% announced at first and place Catalan companies in an intermediate but clearly advantageous position compared with other European competitors.

Differentiated tariffs by company and degree of cooperation

The system set up by the Chinese authorities provides for differentiated tariffs according to each company's level of cooperation during the investigation. Companies considered cooperative —including all Catalan pork exporting companies— are subject to a 9.8% levy. Companies that did not cooperate or did not provide sufficient information will face the highest rate, 19.8%. At the lower end, a company from Aragon obtained the lowest rate in all of Europe, 4.9%.

Strategic importance of the Chinese market for Catalan pork

China is a key market for the Catalan pork sector. In 2024, total international sales of pork meat and pork products by Catalan companies exceeded 4,263 million euros and reached 1.33 million tonnes exported. With €486.41M and 230,955.22 t, China was the 2nd market behind France, representing 11.41% of total exports in value and 17.40% in volume.  These figures show the strategic importance of maintaining access to this market on competitive terms.

The Asian country is especially relevant for marketing offal, giblets and cuts less valued in Europe —such as ears, trotters, snouts or stomachs—, products with sustained demand on the Chinese market that contribute to the economic balance of the entire pork value chain.

The tariffs apply to chilled or frozen pork meat and by-products, as well as to fats and offal. Products such as Iberian ham and certain processed meats, which have a very limited presence on the Chinese market, are excluded from the levy.

This scope reduces the impact on higher value-added products and concentrates the effect of the measure on the categories that carry more weight in volume but also have tighter margins.

Institutional and sector reactions

From the Government of Catalonia, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig, described the decision as “positive for the sector at a delicate moment", noting that the tariff difference represents a competitive advantage over other European countries.

For its part, the European Commission has expressed disagreement with the Chinese investigation, which it considers based on questionable arguments, and has reiterated that it will defend European producers' interests in the relevant forums.

From within the sector, the industry body Interporc stresses that the tariff reduction is the result of intense technical and institutional cooperation with the Chinese authorities and interprets the outcome as a sign of confidence in the quality, food safety and professionalism of European and Spanish pork