New South African threat of anti-dumping duties on imports of poultry meat from Poland, Spain, Ireland and Denmark

Question for written answer  E-001994/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Asger Christensen (Renew)

Over the last five years, South Africa has behaved against the spirit of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The South African International Trade Administration Commission has imposed several unfair and legally unjustified trade measures to prevent the EU from exporting poultry meat freely.

Therefore, the Commission is asked the following questions:

• 1.The Safeguard Dispute Settlement Panel established under the EPA is not progressing due to South African obstruction. How does the Commission intend to react to this lack of cooperation?
• 2.Is the Commission ready to apply the Trade Enforcement Regulation proactively, and to respond appropriately despite the lack of a Safeguard Panel conclusion, in order to counterbalance the trade barriers for EU exports of poultry meat to South Africa?
• 3.South African imposition of additional anti-dumping duties on yearly exports of more than 100 000 tons of poultry meat from the Member States concerned, on top of other trade measures against the EU’s poultry meat exporting countries, means there is a need to eventually find new destinations outside the EU for this poultry meat. Will the Commission prioritise EU poultry market access to China as part of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment?