China slaps 55% tariff on Brazilian beef, rebuffs bid to borrow Uruguay’s quota
China will charge an extra 55 per cent tariff on Brazilian beef from Thursday after Brazil filled its import quota for the year and has not agreed to let Brazilian exporters use the unfilled quota of neighbouring Uruguay, industry sources said. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the surtax on Wednesday, a day after China’s customs administration confirmed that Brazil had used all of its…
China has imposed a 55% additional tariff on Brazilian beef imports starting next week following Brazil's depletion of its annual import quota. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the surtax on Wednesday, a day after confirming that Brazil had utilized all its 1.106 million-tonne allowance for 2026. With the quota exhausted, Brazil is barred from its largest beef market for the remainder of the year.
China purchased 1.68 million tonnes of Brazilian beef last year, accounting for 48% of the country's total beef exports, valued at US$8.9 billion out of US$18.3 billion in overall beef sales. The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC) estimated that this year's quota covers only about 65% of what Brazilian plants shipped to China in 2025, and that Brazil's total beef exports will decline by approximately 10%.
Beijing implemented the safeguard to shield its domestic cattle farmers, who have experienced declining prices due to oversupply and reduced consumption. The measure, in effect until the end of 2028, includes a 55% surtax on any excess imports. Brazil, the world's leading beef exporter, received the largest share but also the steepest cut compared to recent sales.
ABIEC president Roberto Perosa stated that the Chinese safeguard impacts all countries but Brazil suffered the most significant reduction.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
