EU orders registration of Chinese Pekin duck imports for possible retroactive duties

The European Commission has made imports of Pekin duck originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration, a step that allows anti-dumping duties to be levied retroactively on those imports if the ongoing investigation so warrants. The decision is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2118 of 24 September 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 September 2026.

The measure rests on Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, the EU’s basic anti-dumping regulation. It follows the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding announced by the Commission on 9 July 2026 in the Official Journal (C/2026/3584), which itself followed a complaint lodged on 26 May 2026 by five producers of Pekin duck representing more than 25% of total Union production of the product.

What is being registered

The product concerned is meat of Pekin duck in all its commercial forms, namely:

• Carcasses and cuts, fresh, chilled or frozen
• Meat salted, in brine, dried or smoked
• Meat with bones or boneless
• Other prepared or preserved meat of Pekin duck

The goods are currently classified under 25 CN codes, running from ex 0207 41 20 to ex 1602 39 85, with corresponding TARIC codes. Under Article 1 of the regulation, the customs authorities of the Member States are directed to take the appropriate steps to register imports of these products originating in China.

Retroactive liability and the figures in play

The purpose of registration is to ensure that anti-dumping duties, if any, can be levied retroactively on the imports registered, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions and if the necessary conditions are met. The Commission decided to act on its own initiative; the conditions for retroactive collection will be assessed in the regulation imposing definitive duties, if any, and any future liability would emanate from the findings of the investigation.

The calculations in the complaint estimate dumping margins of between 132% and 223% and an injury elimination level of between 152% and 210% for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025. Under Article 9(4) of the basic regulation, the amount of possible future liability would normally be set at the lower of the dumping or injury level. The Commission states that at this stage it is not in a position to estimate that amount, and that the figures in the complaint are for information purposes only and cannot create expectations as to the actual level of liability.

Duration, entry into force and data protection

• Registration expires nine months following the date of entry into force of the regulation.
• The regulation enters into force on the day following its publication, that is 26 September 2026.
• It is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
• Personal data collected in the context of the registration will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

The regulation was done at Brussels on 24 September 2026 and signed for the Commission by its President, Ursula von der Leyen.

For EU poultry importers and Chinese exporters alike, the registration creates a contingent liability that could be charged retroactively on shipments made from late September 2026 onwards, and it opens a new front in the Union’s trade-defence activity against Chinese agri-food exports.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, No 2026/2118, 25 September 2026, section I (official reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2118).