The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced this Monday a anti-dumping investigation against certain imports of pork and derivatives from the European Unionan anticipated response to the tariffs imposed by Brussels on Chinese electric vehicles.

This measure could especially affect Spain, the main pork exporter to China within the community bloc. Some analysts had already anticipated that Beijing would seek to focus its retaliation for the tariffs on the countries considered to be their promoters, among which is Spain.

As indicated by the Ministry of Commerce on its website, the request to investigate imports of European pork to China was presented on June 6 by the Chinese Livestock Association. The investigations will focus on the imported products in 2023 and in the ‘damage’ that these purchases caused to the Chinese sector between 2020 and 2023.

In the process, products such as pork or offalboth refrigerated and frozen, as well as fat from that animal and derivatives thereof or viscera, according to the statement, which specifies that The investigation will begin this Monday and will continue for a yearwith the option to extend it for another six additional months “under special circumstances.”