🚨 CHINA SLAPS 55% TARIFF ON U.S. BEEF ABOVE QUOTA
Beijing just dropped a major end-of-year trade bomb 💥
Starting Jan 1, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will impose a 55% additional tariff on beef imports that exceed annual quotas — a move set to reshape the global meat trade.
🔑 Key Details
• U.S. quota: 164,000 metric tons for 2026
• Penalty: Any exports above the cap face a massive 55% levy on top of existing duties
• Reason: China says a surge in cheap foreign beef has “substantially damaged” its domestic cattle industry after a year-long probe
• Not just the U.S.:
🇧🇷 Brazil — 1.1M tons
🇦🇺 Australia — 205K tons
🇦🇷 Argentina — also capped
• Duration: Safeguard measures run through Dec 31, 2028
• Transition plan: Quotas will rise gradually, with tariffs slowly eased each year
🧠 Why This Matters
China is a high-margin destination for premium U.S. beef.
This move forces exporters into a tough choice: ➡️ Cap shipments
➡️ Or get priced out of Chinese supermarkets and steakhouses entirely
Trade protection is back — and it’s aggressive.
