China to impose extra 55% tariffs on Beef imports beyond quotas

China said on Wednesday it will impose additional tariffs of 55 percent on certain beef imports from countries including Brazil, Australia and the United States when shipments exceed specified quotas, starting January 1.

Beijing’s commerce ministry said an investigation found that rising beef imports had harmed China’s domestic industry. The probe covered fresh and frozen beef, both bone-in and boneless. The additional tariffs, described as safeguard measures, will apply for three years until December 31, 2028, and will be gradually eased over time.

China’s beef prices have fallen in recent years amid oversupply and weaker demand as economic growth has slowed. At the same time, imports have surged, making China a crucial market for major exporters such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

Under the new system, exporting countries have been assigned annual quotas. Beef imports that exceed those limits will face the extra 55 percent levy, while quotas will increase slightly each year. For 2026, Brazil’s quota is set at 1.1 million tonnes, Argentina’s at about half that level, Australia’s at around 200,000 tonnes and the United States’ at 164,000 tonnes.

The ministry also said it was suspending part of a free trade agreement with Australia related to beef imports. A spokesperson stressed that the safeguards are intended to provide temporary relief to China’s domestic beef industry rather than to restrict normal trade.

Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, said it would engage with China both bilaterally and through the World Trade Organization to reduce the impact of the measures. Brazil’s foreign ministry noted that China accounted for 52 percent of the country’s beef exports in 2024.