China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports

By AFP December 31, 2025 | 07:29 pm PT

Packs of frozen beef rib rolls imported from U.S. are pictured at a supermarket in Beijing, China, April 9, 2025. Photo by Reuters

China said on Dec. 31 it will impose additional 55% tariffs on some beef imports from countries including Brazil, Australia and the United States that exceed a certain quantity from Jan. 1, 2026.

The price of beef in China has trended downwards in recent years, with analysts blaming oversupply and a lack of demand as the world’s second-largest economy has slowed.

At the same time, imports have surged, with China representing a hugely important market for countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

Investigators found beef imports had damaged China’s domestic industry, Beijing’s commerce ministry said in a statement. The probe covered fresh, frozen, bone-in and boneless beef.

The extra tariffs apply for three years – until Dec. 31, 2028.

The ministry described the levies as "safeguards" and said they would be gradually relaxed.

Countries have been assigned annual quotas and beef sent to China will be subject to the extra 55% levy if imports go beyond that amount.

Quotas expand slightly each year.

In 2026, Brazil has an import quota of 1 million tonnes while Argentina has a cap of roughly half that.

Australia faces a quota of around 181,000 tonnes and the United States one of 149,000 tonnes.

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.