Meat industry feels the pain as China announces beef tariffs

“EXTREMELY disappointed” is how the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) says it feels after the announcement by China to implement new beef imports from 1 January.

According to Xinhua, the official news agency for the People’s Republic of China, the “trade-limiting safeguard measures” are to apply from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028.

The measures are be implemented in the form of country-specific tariff rate quotas, with imported beef exceeding the specified quantities to be subject to an additional tariff rate of 55 percent.

The measures will be in effect for three years and will be progressively relaxed at fixed intervals during the implementation period, the ministry said.

The purpose of imposing safeguard measures on imported beef was “to help the domestic industry weather its current difficulties, rather than to restrict normal trade”, a ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying.

AMIC chief executive Tim Ryan said the new trade arrangements imposed on Australia were not fair, appropriate, or reflective of the long-standing, mutually beneficial trade relationship Australia had with China.

“This decision appears to reward other countries who have surged the volume of beef exported to the Chinese market in recent years,” Mr Ryan said.

“This decision will have a severe impact on trade flows to China over the duration of the measures’ enforcement, disrupt the longstanding relationships fostered under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement, and restrict the ability for Chinese consumers to access safe and reliable Australian beef.”

Mr Ryan said AMIC, along with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), engaged with the MOFCOM safeguard investigation team during their year-long investigation process.

This included providing formal evidence at in-person hearings in China and hosting Chinese investigators in Australia.

“In these representations, AMIC and MLA repeatedly stressed that Australia remains a trusted, reliable and stable source of beef into China, helping to meet Chinese consumer demand,” Mr Ryan said.

“Imports of Australian beef are not a cause of damage to the domestic beef industry in China.”

Mr Ryan said while Australian beef was highly quality and sustainable produced, it accounted for just 8% of China’s overall beef imports.

China imports most of its beef from South America.

AMIC believes new restrictions, nonetheless, could reduce Australian beef exports to China by about one-third compared with the previous twelve months.

AMIC is evaluating the announcement and the safeguard measures.

“We will make strong representations on our members’ behalf to the Australian and Chinese governments regarding the severe and unnecessary impact of these new measures,” Mr Ryan said.