BEIJING — China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Dec. 31, 2025, that it will impose a 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from key suppliers, including the United States, Brazil and Australia, according to a Reuters report.
The total import quota for 2026 is 2.7 million tonnes. Effective Jan. 1, the new measure’s quota will increase annually and expire after three years.
The added tariff is considered a “safeguard” to protecting China’s domestic cattle industry, the Ministry of Commerce said.
In 2024, China imported a record total of 2.87 million tonnes. The new annual quota levels, however, are already lower than import levels for the first 11 months of 2025 for Brazil and Australia.
“The increase in the amount of imported beef has seriously damaged China’s domestic industry,” the ministry explained after analyzing a probe launched in December 2024.
In response to China’s new measure, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) expressed “disappointment” on behalf of Australia’s meat industry.
“Australia has consistently engaged with China throughout their investigation process, making clear at every opportunity that our exports are not the cause of any alleged injury to China’s domestic beef sector,” MLA said in a statement. “We have also reminded China of Australia’s position as a trusted free trade partner and hope that will continue to be respected.
“China remains and will continue to be an important market for Australian beef, and this tariff will impact our customers within China significantly. MLA’s China offices will liaise closely with our customers and importers in market as this measure is implemented.”
MLA said it will continue working with industry and trade partners to promote Australian red meat in the Chinese market.
“While this safeguard measure will impact all major beef suppliers to China, not just Australia, we will continue to work closely with the Australian Government and industry partners including the Australian Meat Industry Council to seek clarity on the measure and pursue the best possible outcome for Australian beef producers,” the group added.
Erin Borror, vice president for economic analysis at the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), voiced concern for the tariffs as well.
“China should not impose a safeguard mechanism on imports of beef, as USMEF, the US government and our competitor industry bodies and governments argued throughout China’s year-long investigation,” she said. “This is especially true for US beef, with prices being dramatically higher than competitors’ prices and China’s domestic prices. US beef is differentiated, our market share is small, and currently minimal, and we already face elevated tariffs, so there was no reason to add additional barriers for US beef.”
The US beef industry is currently fighting to regain market access to China, including by updating US plants and cold storage facilities in China’s registration system and relisting over 30 suspended plants.
“While the safeguard means nothing when the US is unable to export to China, if we regain access, we expect Chinese demand for US beef is still strong — customers want US beef,” Borror said. “If China resumes compliance with the Phase One agreement and fully reopens to US beef, there will be a risk of the US triggering the safeguard volume, which is based on the average of China’s imports from July 2021 through June 2024. Although this is not likely to happen until late in the year, the safeguard is in no way helpful and could cause distortions in the global beef market, especially when Brazil and Australia fill their quotas and product is redirected to other markets.”
Read the latest updates on tariff issues impacting the pet food industry.
