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China sets steep tariffs on beef imports beyond new quota limits
China announced plans to impose an additional 55 percent tariff on beef imports that exceed newly defined country quotas, targeting major suppliers such as Brazil and the United States and closing a year long safeguard investigation into the sector.
The Chinese commerce ministry said the measure will take effect on January 1, 2026 and remain in force for three years. The decision follows a safeguard probe launched in December 2024 after domestic cattle farmers and beef producers raised concerns about surging imports and sustained downward pressure on prices in the local market.
Under the new framework, Beijing has assigned country specific quotas that broadly mirror existing trade patterns. Brazil receives the largest annual allocation at 1.1 million tonnes, consolidating its position as China’s leading beef supplier. Argentina is allocated 510,000 tonnes, while Uruguay, Australia, and New Zealand are each granted between 200,000 and 320,000 tonnes. The United States is assigned a quota of 160,000 tonnes.
China imported a record 2.87 million metric tonnes of beef in 2024. Imports rose by 2.8 percent year on year through October 2025 to reach 2.41 million tonnes. Brazil accounted for roughly half of China’s beef imports in 2024, with shipments valued at nearly six billion dollars.
The investigation reviewed import data from January 2019 to June 2024. During that period, beef’s share of the Chinese market rose from 20.55 percent to 30.90 percent, according to the commerce ministry, underscoring the rapid expansion of foreign supply.
Authorities extended the probe twice before issuing their final ruling, citing the complexity of the case. The delays reflected efforts to balance protection for domestic producers with the need to ensure stable beef supplies for consumers. While oversupply has weighed on profitability in parts of the sector, agriculture officials reported in July that beef cattle farming had been generally profitable for three consecutive months. Policy support for the industry was stepped up throughout 2025.
Trade frictions have already disrupted access for United States beef this year. In March, China allowed export registrations for hundreds of American beef processing facilities to lapse, effectively blocking shipments from about 60 percent of eligible plants. The U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates that restricted access to the Chinese market costs the industry roughly four billion dollars annually.
