China Launches Safeguard Investigation into Imported Beef
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has launched a safeguard investigation into imported beef. The investigation will examine all beef imported to the country between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2024. According to the announcement by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the investigation will examine all beef imported to China under the following HS codes: 02011000 (fresh or chilled carcasses and half carcasses), 02012000 (fresh or chilled unboned bovine meat excluding carcasses), 02013000 (fresh or chilled boneless bovine meat), 02021000 (frozen bovine carcasses and half carcasses), 02022000 (frozen unboned bovine meat excluding carcasses), and 02023000 (frozen boneless bovine meat). This investigation was prompted by appeals from domestic cattle and beef producers and their associations, who have raised concerns about the influx of low-priced beef imports. The investigation will cover the period from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2024. Interested parties have 20 days to register for participation. The investigation will use questionnaires and potential hearings.
According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of the PRC (GACC), the major beef exporters to China in 2023 and the first half of 2024 included Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Currently, 120 companies from the EU (from France, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) are registered for exporting bovine meat to China. Approximately 50% of these companies are from France and 20% from Ireland. However, as of December 2024, due to animal disease concerns and the lack of regionalisation recognition by Chinese authorities, only five EU companies are eligible to export bovine meat to China: two from Latvia and three from Hungary.
The full announcement is available on the website of the EU SME Centre here
China Announces 2025 Provisional Tariffs on Certain Seafood Imports
China's provisional tariff adjustments on seafood imports entered into force on 1 January 2025. Some major fish species exported by EU countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, see an increase in tariffs from 2% in 2024 to 5% in 2025.
On 26 December 2024, the Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council announced “The 2025 Tariff Adjustment Plan”. A provisional import tariff rate lower than the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) rate will apply to 935 items starting from 1 January 2025. Some major seafood species will see an increase in tariffs from 2% in 2024 to 5% in 2025.
Seafood Species with Increased Tariffs
1. Frozen Greenland Halibut – 冻马舌鲽（格陵兰庸鲽鱼）
2. Frozen Flounder – 冻鲽鱼
3. Frozen Atlantic Herring – 冻鲱鱼
4. Frozen Cod (including Atlantic, Greenland, and Pacific Cod) – 冻鳕鱼
5. Frozen Alaskan Pollock – 冻阿拉斯加狭鳕鱼
6. Frozen Blue Cod – 冻蓝鳕鱼
Eligible EU Countries and Affected Export Species
EU country: Belgium 比利时
Relevant export species
Frozen flounder 鲽鱼 Pleuronectes platessa [冷冻等]
Frozen Greenland halibut 马舌鲽 Reinhardtius hippoglossoides [冷冻等]
Frozen Atlantic cod 大西洋鳕 Gadus morhua [冷冻等]
Frozen Greenland cod 格陵兰鳕 Gadus ogac [冷冻等]
Frozen Pacific cod 太平洋鳕,又名大头鳕 Gadus macrocephalus [冷冻等]
Frozen Atlantic herring 大西洋鲱 Clupea harengus [冰鲜]
The full announcement is available on the website of the EU SME Centre here
