China raises tariff on Brazilian beef by 55%, effective October 1, after imports hit 1.1 million-ton quota
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China announced it will impose an additional 55% import tariff on Brazilian beef starting October 1, 2026, on top of the rates currently in effect, according to a disclosure by China's Ministry of Commerce on September 30. The measure is part of a policy China announced back in January to levy an extra 55% tariff on beef imports exceeding the quota from major exporting countries, including Brazil, in order to protect the domestic livestock industry and cattle farmers. China set this year's import quota for Brazil at 1.1 million tons, and China is Brazil's largest beef export market. Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva disclosed that Uruguay had allowed Brazil to use the portion of Uruguay's beef export quota to China that Uruguay had not used up, but industry sources said China has not approved Brazil's use of Uruguay's quota, either this year or next, and that China is unlikely to accept an arrangement Brazil negotiated directly with another country to use the leftover quota. Meanwhile, the Brazilian beef exporters association estimates that Brazil's total beef export volume in 2026 could fall 10% from the previous year, amid restrictions from China as well as the European Union's measures limiting meat imports from Brazil, and the industry is watching closely whether China will renew the beef import quota measure for 2027, with clarity expected by the end of this year.