Australian beef industry ‘extremely disappointed’ after China hits imports with 55% tariff

Levy on beef exceeding quotas to begin immediately as Beijing seeks to protect domestic industry

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Australian beef producers said they were extremely disappointed" after China announced a 55% tariff on imports that exceed quota levels in a move to protect a domestic cattle industry slowly emerging from oversupply.

China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday the total import quota for 2026 for Australia and other countries such as Brazil and the US covered under its new safeguard measures" is 2.7m metric tons, roughly in line with the record 2.87m tons it imported overall in 2024.