China imposes curbs on beef imports to protect domestic industry

China will impose an added 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from key supplier countries including Brazil, Australia and the U.S. in a move to protect a domestic cattle industry slowly emerging from oversupply.

China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday the total import quota for 2026 for countries covered under its new "safeguard measures" is 2.7 million metric tons, roughly in line with the record 2.87 million tons it imported overall in 2024.

The new annual quota levels are set below import levels for the first 11 months of 2025 for top supplier Brazil as well as for 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 total quota increasing annually.

Beef imports to China fell 0.3% in the first 11 months of this year to 2.59 million 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," Xu said.