Call for urgent measures to tackle food imports from China, a form of unfair competition that is detrimental to EU Member States

29.10.2024

Question for written answer  E-002296/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anna Maria Cisint (PfE), Susanna Ceccardi (PfE), Silvia Sardone (PfE), Roberto Vannacci (PfE)

The US and the UK’s decision to block tomato purée imports from Xinjiang over reports of human rights abuses against agricultural workers has recently made headlines. This issue had previously been raised in Italy – Europe’s leading tomato producer and exporter – where producers had also called for such a ban.

We must prevent Chinese tomato producers – who have doubled their output from 6 to11 million tonnes in only two years – from competing on the single market either by banning their products or by imposing heavy duties on them, given that they are cheaper because they do not have to comply with EU regulations.

In addition to threatening the survival of the many European companies that are an example of excellence in terms of quality and the preservation of tradition, these Chinese foodstuffs could also contain extremely harmful substances because they are made using chemically-synthesised products that are illegal in the EU.

In the light of the above:

1 Is the Commission aware of the above state of affairs?

2 Is it planning to tackle competition from Chinese food companies, particularly those producing tomatoes and derivatives thereof, by means either of import bans or of duties of at least 60 %?

Submitted: 29.10.2024