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Brussels – The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Spain, Luis Planas, has asked the European Commission this Monday for a “constructive” solution to the trade disputes with China, which has launched an ‘anti-dumping’ investigation into imports of relevant pork and pork by-products originating in the European Union in retaliation for the EU tariffs on its electric car.
After Brussels announced the imposition of tariffs of up to 38.1% on electric battery cars imported from China, the Government of the People’s Republic announced the opening of this investigation, a step that worries Spain as one of the main producers and exporters of pork to the Asian giant.
“In general, the agricultural and livestock sector is not usually at the origin of trade differences, but it is always the favorite target of retaliation measures, because it affects all citizens in terms of cost increases,” said Planas in statements to the media upon his arrival in Brussels to participate in the meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers.
The minister pointed out that the Commission maintains contact with the Chinese authorities, so he hopes that a “constructive” solution can be found to what Planas has already described as a “trade war” between the two partners.
Likewise, he highlighted the positive attitude of the sector in Spain, which has adopted a “nothing to hide” stance and made a “great technical, administrative and economic effort” to provide all the necessary documentation.
Planas added that he is in contact with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, to defend the interests of the Spanish sector and seek a solution that avoids the imposition of tariffs on the livestock sector, which “has nothing to do with the war around the electric vehicle.” (July 15)