China announces 55% additional tariff on Brazilian beef — South China Morning Post
Starting Thursday, China will levy an additional 55% tariff on Brazilian beef shipments exceeding the annual quota. After the permitted volume is exhausted, the total tariff rate for such meat will amount to 67%, including the standard 12% import duty. As the South China Morning Post reports, exporters consider this tariff level too high to continue sales.
China’s customs administration confirmed that Brazil has used its entire 2026 quota of 1.106 million tonnes. Under the rules, the additional tariff takes effect on the third day after a country reaches its set limit. Brazil has effectively lost access to its largest beef market until the end of the year.
The quota does not cover previous trade volumes
According to the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association, ABIEC, China purchased 1.68 million tonnes of beef from Brazil last year, or 48% of all Brazilian exports of this product. The value of these shipments was $8.9 billion out of total beef export sales of $18.3 billion.
ABIEC estimates that the 2026 quota covers about 65% of the volume Brazilian companies shipped to China in 2025. The association forecasts that Brazil’s total beef exports will decline by about 10% this year.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Attempt to use Uruguay’s quota
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said last week that Uruguay had allowed Brazil to use part of its quota. However, China has not yet approved such a transfer for either this year or next year. Sources familiar with the negotiations told the publication that Beijing is unlikely to approve direct arrangements between Brazil and other suppliers regarding unused volumes.
Uruguay received a 2026 quota of 324,000 tonnes and had used about 28% of that volume by July. Argentina’s and Australia’s quotas amount to 511,000 and 205,000 tonnes, respectively. Australia exhausted its limit in June and has also been paying the additional tariff since then.
China introduced the safeguard mechanism in January 2026 to support its own cattle farmers, who faced falling prices due to oversupply and weaker consumption. It will remain in force until the end of 2028 and provides for separate annual quotas for each supplier.
