China slaps Australian beef with huge new tariff
Updated . First published at
China has dealt a major blow to Australian beef exporters by slapping a 55 per cent tariff on imports, a move the industry warns will severely disrupt trade.
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) confirmed Australia had exhausted its 205,000-tonne annual duty-free beef quota, triggering a 55 per cent tariff from Saturday for the rest of the year.
A lucrative market for Australian beef has become much tougher after China triggered a 55 per cent tariff. Ash Depinto
Addressing the media, federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins downplayed the immediate shock by highlighting Australia’s broader export network.
“We’re obviously continuing to work with the beef industry in relation to [the beef safeguard],” Collins said.
“The US remains our largest market in terms of our beef exports and our beef exports are quite diversified.”
China introduced a strict three-year global quota system on January 1, 2026, following a domestic oversupply crisis which it said was to protect its local farmers.
But high demand saw Chinese importers rush to lock in orders early in the year, meaning Australia blew through its entire 12-month tariff-free allowance in less than six months.
AMIC chief executive Tim Ryan warned the news would rock supply chains.
“Hitting 100 per cent of the quota is a major and consequential milestone, with immediate impacts for Australian exporters,” Ryan said.
The industry body said it had worked with China’s Ministry of Commerce throughout its 2025 safeguard investigation. It had also engaged with the Australian government since the measure was announced.
AMIC has long argued that Australia’s duty-free beef quota is too small for the level of demand. Sanghee Liu
AMIC has long argued Australia’s quota was too small for the level of demand and out of step with the trading relationship between the two countries.
The body said Australia accounts for about eight per cent of China’s beef imports, but the tariff-free allocation was exhausted well before the end of the year.
“A tariff of this scale will severely disrupt trade flows into one of our most important markets, and impact the ability for Chinese consumers to access safe, reliable Australian beef,” Ryan said.
The tariff arrives as the meat industry grapples with a string of economic challenges, including higher operating costs and uncertainty across global markets.
“The combination of external trade barriers and rising domestic costs means 2026 is an exceptionally challenging year for the sector,” Ryan said.
AMIC said it would continue working with industry and the Australian government to push for better trading conditions and a stable, reliable beef trade with China.
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