Key facts
- China will impose an additional 55% tariff on Brazilian beef imports starting October 1.
- The new tariff will be applied on top of the current applicable rate.
- China is the largest buyer of Brazilian beef.
- China established a 1.1 million metric ton quota for Brazilian beef this year.
- Brazil's total beef export volumes are expected to drop 10% year-on-year in 2026 due to restrictions.
China will impose an additional 55% tariff on beef imports from Brazil beginning October 1, on top of the current applicable rate, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Wednesday. This measure is intended to protect China's domestic cattle industry. China, the largest buyer of Brazilian beef, has set a quota of 1.1 million metric tons for Brazil this year. Industry insiders have indicated that China has not agreed to allow Brazil to use Uruguay's export quota surplus for this year or next, and is unlikely to agree to any such arrangement even if Brazil reaches direct agreements with other countries over their unused beef export volumes. Reuters reported in May that Beijing had rejected Brazil's repeated requests to relax and reallocate quotas to allow Brazil to utilize other countries' extra export volumes. The Chinese Commerce Ministry has not publicly commented on Brazil's requests. Brazil's total beef export volumes are anticipated to decrease by 10% year-on-year in 2026, according to an earlier estimate by industry group Abiec, amid restrictions imposed by Beijing and a recent curb on Brazilian meat exports to the European Union. Market participants are watching to see if China will renew its beef export quota system for 2027 by year-end.