In early April, China imposed tariffs on a whole range of American products, from fruits and nuts to wine, in response to US duties introduced on steel and aluminium. One of the hardest hit sectors is pork - with China imposing a 25% duty on US exporters - which means other countries, like France, are seeking to take advantage. Elena Casas reports from Brittany in northern France.

These pig feet are being packed up for a month-long voyage around the world - from this small factory in Brittany to Shanghai. This cooperative was the first French firm licensed to export pork meat to China. The Chinese are the world's biggest consumers of pork - eating 130 billion dollars worth a year. The import market is dominated by US firms - but the French say European health standards give their products an advantage.

SAMUEL CLEMENT COOPERL AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE "In Europe, it's forbidden to use hormones, which is very important for the Chinese market, US meat has hormones in it - and here at Cooperl we are going a step further, we produce antibiotic-free meat, and sell that directly to the Chinese market."

US pork exports to China already fell 8% last year - and now, they've been hit with a 25% tariff. That's good news for their competitors here.

ELENA CASA PARIS This cooperative slaughters six million pigs a year and a third of that meat is exported. China is by far the biggest market.

The French pork industry is just one of many in Europe which could theoretically profit from China-US trade disputes. The hundreds of products on China's tariff list include American cars and aeroplanes - leaving a gap European manufacturers could fill. But experts say it's not that simple.

FRANCOIS GODEMONT EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS "If you look at European car exports to China, they are mainly from cars that are assembled in the US, and that's essentially the premium brands from Germany - the others assemble in China."

The other downside for firms like this is that tariffs on imports would just see Chinese consumers switch to buying Chinese meat. Here at Cooperl, they're a step ahead - the company is soon to open a factory near Beijing making French-style hams from Chinese-raised pork. Elena Casas, CGTN, Lamballe, Brittany.