Beijing will impose 55% tariffs on beef imports exceeding quotas from Brazil, Australia, the US and Argentina to protect its domestic industry.
BEIJING: China will impose additional 55% tariffs on beef imports exceeding annual quotas from January 1.
The tariffs target imports from Brazil, Australia, the United States and Argentina.
The commerce ministry said an investigation found beef imports had damaged China’s domestic industry.
The new levies are described as “safeguard” measures, with the extra tariffs will apply for three years, until December 31, 2028.
The ministry stated the tariffs will be gradually relaxed over this period.
Countries have been assigned specific annual import quotas as imports exceeding these amounts will face the 55% levy.
Brazil has the largest quota at 1.1 million tons for 2026 while Argentina’s cap is roughly half that amount.
Australia faces a quota of around 200,000 tons, while the United States has a limit of 164,000 tons.
These quotas will expand slightly each year.
The ministry also announced it is suspending part of a free trade agreement with Australia covering beef.
The probe covered fresh, frozen, bone-in and boneless beef.
“The implementation of safeguards on imported beef is intended to temporarily help the domestic industry get through difficulties, not to restrict normal beef trade,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The price of beef in China has trended downwards in recent years.
Analysts blame oversupply and a lack of demand as the economy has slowed but at the same time, imports have surged.
China represents a hugely important market for major beef-exporting nations.
