China announced on Wednesday that starting on January 1, certain beef imports from nations like Brazil, Australia, and the United States will be subject to additional 55% taxes.
As the world’s second-largest economy has slowed, researchers attribute the recent decline in beef prices in China to both overstock and a lack of demand.
Imports have increased concurrently, with China becoming a very significant market for nations like Brazil, Argentina, and Australia.
According to a statement from Beijing’s commerce ministry, investigators discovered that imports of beef had harmed China’s domestic economy. Fresh, frozen, boneless, and bone-in beef were all covered by the probe.
The additional tariffs are in effect until December 31, 2028, a period of three years.
The levies were referred to as “safeguards” by the ministry, which also stated that they will be gradually reduced.
Beef shipped to China will be subject to an additional 55 percent tariff if imports exceed the annual quotas set by the countries.
Every year, quotas are gradually increased.
In 2026, Brazil has an import quota of 1.1 million tons while Argentina has a cap of roughly half that.
Australia faces a quota of around 200,000 tons and the United States one of 164,000 tons.
The ministry also said it was suspending part of a free trade agreement with Australia covering 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 spokesperson said in a separate statement.
Brazil, the world’s largest meat exporter, said Wednesday it intended to “work with the Chinese government, both bilaterally and within the WTO (World Trade Organization) framework, to mitigate the impact” of the new measure.
The foreign ministry in Brasilia said in a statement that Brazil was the main supplier of beef to China, which accounted for 52 percent of the South American country’s foreign sales of the commodity in 2024.
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