A high-level visit by China’s Vice President Han Zheng to Spain this week marks a new chapter in the trade relationship between the two nations—particularly for Spain’s pork sector.
Vice President Han’s four-day trip follows a significant breakthrough earlier this year that granted Spain expanded access to export pork stomachs to China—a product highly valued in Chinese cuisine but previously restricted under trade regulations.
The visit builds on growing economic and political ties, coming just two months after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. During that meeting, Sanchez pushed to deepen collaboration and position Spain as a strategic bridge between China and the European Union.
For Spain’s pork industry, the timing couldn’t be more critical. Last year, China’s retaliatory anti-dumping inquiry into EU pork, triggered by EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, disproportionately affected Spain—one of Europe’s top pork exporters. The recent agreement to allow pork stomach exports is seen as a key win, offering new revenue opportunities and helping ease tensions.
During Han’s stay, he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sanchez and King Felipe VI in Madrid, with a follow-up trip to Seville to meet regional officials. Andalusia has already attracted over €2.5 billion in Chinese investment, underscoring the broader scope of economic engagement between the two countries.
This renewed cooperation could signal a positive shift for pork producers and exporters looking to maintain or expand access to China, one of the world’s largest markets for pork products.
With a projected 36% surge in Chinese tourism to Spain this summer, economic engagement between the two countries continues to broaden—potentially paving the way for deeper agricultural ties in the months ahead.
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Stay tuned to Swine Web for more updates on global pork trade developments.
