China will impose extra tariffs of 55% on imported beef from January 1 | Economy | EUROtoday

Starting January 1, 2026, China will impose safeguard measures on imported beef, which is able to embody country-specific quotas and an extra 55% tariff for imports that exceed these limits, after concluding an investigation that decided “serious damage” to the nationwide livestock trade, the Ministry of Commerce reported this Wednesday. According to the assertion made public by the industrial portfolio, beef imports have elevated considerably lately and there’s a causal relationship between this improve and the difficulties confronted by the home sector, which justifies the adoption of momentary safety measures in accordance with Chinese laws and the foundations of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The measures will probably be in power for 3 years, till December 31, 2028, and will probably be utilized by way of annual quotas per nation, which will probably be steadily expanded, the group stated. Once the allotted quantity is exhausted, imports will probably be topic to an extra tariff of 55%, which will probably be added to the duties already in power.

The Ministry specified that imports inside the quotas will keep the present tariffs and that unused quotas can’t be carried over to the next 12 months. In addition, the precise safeguard mechanisms supplied for within the free commerce settlement between China and Australia will probably be suspended through the implementation interval. Developing nations whose particular person quota doesn’t exceed 3% of complete imports and whose combination weight stays under 9% will probably be excluded from these measures, though this exemption could also be reviewed if stated thresholds are exceeded.

The Ministry careworn that the target of the safeguards is to “temporarily help the domestic industry overcome its difficulties” and never limit regular commerce, and warranted that China will proceed to take care of its open market and cooperation with its buying and selling companions. The determination places an finish to an investigation launched on December 27, 2024, on the request of Chinese livestock associations, to judge the influence of the sharp improve in beef imports on the native trade. According to official knowledge launched when the file was opened, international purchases grew by virtually 65% between 2019 and 2023 and greater than 100% within the first half of 2024 in comparison with 2019, elevating the market share of imported meat to above 30%.

During the method, the Ministry of Commerce collected data by way of questionnaires, public hearings and on-the-spot verifications, with the participation of governments and export corporations from nations equivalent to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, important suppliers to the Chinese market. In March 2025, greater than 180 representatives of 75 events took half in a public listening to convened by the authorities.

The announcement is available in a context of rising worldwide commerce tensions, during which Beijing has activated or expanded comparable investigations into merchandise equivalent to pork, sure dairy merchandise or brandy from the European Union, in parallel to the friction with Brussels over European tariffs on Chinese electrical autos.

However, the Ministry of Commerce careworn that the measures on beef usually are not directed in opposition to particular nations, however somewhat search to supply momentary reduction to the home sector to facilitate its adjustment. China is the world’s largest importer of beef, buying a document 2.87 million tonnes in 2024, in keeping with customs knowledge. In the primary half of 2025, imports fell 9.5% year-on-year, at a time when the native livestock sector reviews extended pressures on profitability and a discount in reproductive capability.