In a message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter), which is blocked in mainland China, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, the Global Times, quoted an unidentified source "with knowledge of the sector". The measure could particularly affect Spain, the largest European supplier of pork to China, with sales of around 382,000 tonnes in 2023. Last year, the Chinese market imported 1.55 million tonnes of pork, the most popular meat among consumers in the country, and more than half came from Europe. The news came amid growing trade tensions between China and Brussels. On Wednesday, the China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (EU) said it had been "informed by industry experts" that Beijing is considering raising tariffs on large-engine vehicles, in preparation for a possible EU decision to penalize Chinese electric vehicles. The chamber of commerce cited an interview published by the official Chinese newspaper Global Times, in which Liu Bin, one of the leading experts with influence in the drafting of government policies for the automotive sector, said that Beijing is considering raising taxes on imported large-engine cars to 25%. Liu pointed to sedans and SUVs with engines larger than 2.5 liters as the target of the measure, which "would comply with WTO (World Trade Organization) regulations" and "help China promote the transition to 'greener' practices in the automotive sector and move towards the objectives of reducing carbon emissions". The local press recalled that last weekend, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced an 'anti-dumping' investigation against imports of polyoxymethylene copolymer, a material frequently used by the automotive sector, from the US, the EU, Japan and Taiwan. Also on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry assured that "China's development and openness to Europe and the world is an opportunity, not a risk", and that protectionism "cannot solve the EU's problems". "The EU and China should resolve specific economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultations," said the ministry's spokesman, Wang Wenbin, at a press conference. Read Also: US accuses China of "military provocations" and calls for "moderation" (Portuguese version)