Major beef exporters to China hit hard by new heavy tariffs

China has imposed additional tariffs of 55% on beef imports once they go over quota levels, in a bid to further safeguard its own domestic beef production.

The tariffs, set for the next three years, could cost major beef exporters to China a lot of money, with Australia set to lose over $1billion in lost sales.

Exports of beef from the U.S., Uruguay and Brazil are also under threat by the latest move.

China has set its quota for total beef imports during 2026 at around 2.7 million tonnes, of which Australia has been allocated 205,000 tonnes.

During 2024, China imported 1.34 million tonnes of beef from Brazil; 594,567 tonnes from Argentina; 243,662 tonnes from Uruguay; 216,050 tonnes from Australia; 150,514 tonnes from New Zealand; and 138,112 tonnes from the U.S.

The new beef import quotas for 2026 include Brazil at 1.1 million tonnes; Argentina 511,000 tonnes; Uruguay 324,000 tonnes; New Zealand 206,000 tonnes; and U.S. at 164,000 tonnes.

TRADE AGREEMENT BREACH

Beef sector industries in Australia say this new tariff breaches the details of the free trade agreement set up between Australia and China in 2015.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said government representatives had been in touch with China over the new tariffs.

The PM said, “Australian beef is in my view proudly, as the Australian prime minister, the best in the world.

“We compete in the world very well and our products are in great demand right around the world.  We expect that will continue. The Australian beef industry has never been stronger than it is today, as we enter 2026.”

Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell said, “We have made it clear to China that Australian beef is not a risk to their beef sector, and that we expect our status as a valued free trade agreement partner to be respected.

“Australia is a trading nation, with a network of trade agreements spanning almost 80 percent of the globe,” he said.

China has been investigating the effects of beef exports on its own domestic beef production for the past few years, and says the new tariff is essential to protest its home supply.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said, “The investigating authority ruled that the increase in the amount of imported beef had seriously damaged China’s domestic industry, and that there was a causal relationship between the increase in the number of imported products and the serious damage.”