China imposes 55% tariff on Australian beef

China will impose a 55% tariff on Australian beef imports from June 20. (AFP file photo)

[Central News Agency] China's Ministry of Commerce said today that since the import quantity reached 100% of the required quantity, an additional 55% tariff will be imposed on Australian beef exported to China on the 20th.

The Ministry of Commerce of China issued a statement on the 19th announcing that the beef imported from Australia under the beef safeguard measures had reached 100% of the country's specified quantity specified in the Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 87 of 2025 on June 18, 2026. According to the Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 87 of 2025, starting from the third day after the import quantity of Australian beef reaches 100% of the specified quantity (that is, from midnight on June 20), beef imported from this country will be subject to an additional 55% tariff on the basis of the current applicable tariff rate.

On December 31, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce of China officially announced its ruling on the implementation of safeguard measures on imported beef. The investigation agency ruled that the increase in imported beef had seriously damaged the domestic industry and that there was a causal relationship between the two.

The Ministry of Commerce of China has decided to adopt a three-year safeguard measure on imported beef in the form of "country-specific quotas and additional tariffs in addition to quotas" starting from January 1, 2026. The total annual quota is set at 2.688 million tons, of which Australia's annual quota is 205,000 tons.

Some analysts pointed out that Australia has always hoped to cancel this annual quota, but there is currently no sign that China will lift this restriction.

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