The European Union is not worried about China opening an anti-dumping investigation into imported pork and its by-products from the EU, a spokesperson for the bloc's executive Commission said on Monday.
The spokesperson told reporters that the EU would intervene appropriately to ensure the investigation complies with all relevant World Trade Organisation rules.
The Chinese ministry has said the investigation was prompted by a complaint by the China Animal Husbandry Association, but it comes shortly after the EU imposed anti-subsidy duties on Chinese-made electric cars.
"The Ministry of Commerce has opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of relevant pork and pig by-products originating from the European Union," the ministry said in a statement.
"According to the evidence... the total output of the applicant's relevant pork and pork by-products meets the provisions of the Anti-Dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China," it added.
The investigation comes in the face of mounting trade tensions between China and the EU, which last week said it would slap additional tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese electric car imports from next month after an anti-subsidy probe.
Beijing warned the tariffs would "harm Europe's own interests" and condemned the bloc's "protectionism".
Chinese media had ramped up threats that Beijing could target EU exports, including pork and dairy products, ahead of the decision.
China launched an anti-dumping investigation in January into brandy imported from the EU in a move seen as targeting France, which had pushed for the commission's probe.
