China imposes 55% tariff on beef imports
China will impose an added 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from key suppliers in a move to protect its domestic cattle industry. Picture: PA
China will impose an added 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from key suppliers in a move to protect its domestic cattle industry.
China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday the total import quota for 2026 for countries covered under its new "safeguard measures" is 2.7m metric tons, roughly in line with the record 2.87m tons it imported overall in 2024.
Sales of Irish beef were suspended in 2024 due to a case of BSE during testing in Ireland.
China's new annual quota levels are lower than import levels for the first 11 months of 2025 for top supplier Brazil, and Australia.
"The increase in the amount of imported beef has seriously damaged China's domestic industry," the ministry said in announcing the measure following an investigation launched last December.
The measure takes effect on January 1 for three years, with the total quota set to increase annually.
Beef imports to China fell 0.3% in the first 11 months of 2025 to 2.59m tons.
Chinese beef imports will decline in 2026 as a result of the measures, said Hongzhi Xu, senior analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultants. "China's beef-cattle farming is not competitive compared with countries such as Brazil and Argentina. This cannot be reversed in the short term through technological advancements or institutional reforms," Mr Xu said.
China's move comes as a global beef shortage pushes up prices in many parts of the world, including to record highs in the US.
China made its announcement following two extensions of its beef import probe, which officials say does not target any particular country.
The tariffs will help curb the decline in China's breeding cow inventory and buy time for domestic beef enterprises to make adjustments and upgrades, said Zengyong Zhu, a research fellow of the Institute of Animal Science of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Beijing has stepped up policy support for the beef sector and said in late November that cattle farming had been profitable for seven consecutive months.
Reuters
