hina imposes country-specific tariff-rate quotas on imported beef 

China has published the outcome of its safeguard investigation into imported beef and will implement country-specific tariff-rate quotas on beef imports, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on December 31, 2025.

Chinese experts noted that the measure is aimed at protecting the domestic beef industry without substantially disrupting imports or overall supply, stressing that the investigation procedures fully comply with China's laws and regulations as well as WTO rules.

The safeguard measure will be implemented for a period of three years in the form of country-specific tariff-rate quotas, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. China's State Council Tariff Commission, based on the recommendations of the MOFCOM, which has decided to impose additional tariffs on imported beef exceeding the specified quantity, at a rate of 55 percent on top of the current applicable tariff rates.

Starting from January 1, 2026,  importers shall pay tariffs at the current applicable tariff rates when importing beef which does not exceed the specified quantity. However, on the 3rd day after reaching specified quantity of imported beef, importers will pay an additional 55% on top of current applicable tariffs.

The move came after the ministry launched a safeguard investigation into imported beef in late 2024 after receiving an application from 10 domestic associations. And it came as China's beef industry has been under growing strain since 2024 as rising imports squeezed domestic breeders, leading to widespread losses and further slaughter of breeding cattle.

The Chinese market remains open, and there is broad scope for cooperation in beef trade with our trading partners. China is willing to work with all parties to jointly maintain a healthy and stable international trade environment, the spokesperson noted.

China's beef imports have surged, rising by 73.2 percent from 2019 to 2024. Import prices have significantly lower than those of domestically produced beef. At the same time, the number of breeding cattle in China fell by about 3 percent year-on-year in 2024, severely undermining the foundation of the domestic industry, according to official data.

As breeding cattle form the backbone of the industry, a decline in their productivity could cause the entire domestic beef sector to shrink, perhaps significantly, industry insiders said.  

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