French farmers worry pork exports will suffer in EU-China row over customs

European pigs have found themselves at the centre of a trade tug-of-war. 

Pork is a hugely important and lucrative export for many European Union nations.  

The opening on Monday of a Chinese probe into EU pork imports has caused concern for farmers who make a significant portion of their money from exports to China.

The investigation will cover various products including fresh and frozen pork meat, intestines and other internal organs. The announcement says it is expected to take one year, with a possible six-month extension. 

In parts of France like Ille-et-Vilaine, farmers can make between 10-15% of their sales from selling to China - where parts of the pig rarely eaten elsewhere in the world, such as ears and feet, are part of the market.

Pork is an important market for France. Last year, France exported a total of 115,700 tonnes of pork to China, representing over 16% of its total exports.

Olof Gill, a spokesperson on trade for the European Commission, said that EU farm subsidies “are strictly in line with our WTO obligations” and that the commission would follow the investigation very closely and intervene as needed to ensure that the Chinese probe complies with World Trade Organization rules.

Retaliatory measures on pork come as no surprise to international trade experts. Last week, the European Union slapped additional tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese electric car imports from next month following a probe of their own.  

The Chinese Commerce Ministry didn't mention the EV tariffs when it the opening of the anti-dumping investigation. The move also gives China a bargaining chip in any trade negotiations.

China could have slapped a 25% duty on imports of gasoline-powered vehicles with large engines in the name of combating