US pork producers ‘concerned’ as China raises import tariffs despite African swine fever, high demand

Tariffs for most favoured nations will return to 12 per cent on January 1, from 8 per cent currently, according to a finance ministry statement on Wednesday

China lowered its tariffs on frozen pork in 2020 as the country faced soaring domestic meat prices in the aftermath of a devastating outbreak of African swine fever

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Imports surged to a record and remained at high levels through the first half of the year, even as the hog herd recovered and prices fell below production cost by the third quarter. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:09am, 16 Dec 2021Updated: 1:48pm, 16 Dec 2021

China will raise import tariffs on most pork products next year after the world’s top producer rapidly expanded domestic production and reduced its needs for imports.

Tariffs for most favoured nations will return to 12 per cent on January 1, from 8 per cent currently, according to a finance ministry statement on Wednesday.

China lowered its tariffs on frozen pork in 2020 from 12 per cent to 8 per cent as the country faced soaring domestic meat prices in the aftermath of a devastating outbreak of African swine fever, a pig disease.

Imports surged to a record and remained at high levels through the first half of the year, even as the hog herd recovered and prices fell below production cost by the third quarter.

“Adjusting rates in a timely manner can help secure supplies and stabilise prices in the domestic market by reasonably using the international market,” said Zhu Zengyong, researcher with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The higher rates will further slow imports from top exporters like the United States and Spain that have already dropped sharply in recent months.