Australian beef farmers smashed by 55 per cent China tariff after hitting export quota

Australian beef farmers are set to be smashed by a 55 per cent tariff for the rest of the year on all exports sent to China. Beijing introduced a quota on beef exports at the start of the year to protect its own domestic market, setting the quota at 205,000 tonnes – a third lower than the previous year. Australia has now reached that quota, triggering the 55 per cent tariff which will be in place until the end of 2026. Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) chief executive Tim Ryan said the development marks a critical point for the industry. “Hitting 100 per cent of the quota is a major and consequential milestone, with immediate impacts for Australian exporters,” Mr Ryan said. He said AMIC has consistently noted the quota allocated to Australia was not reflective of demand and was disproportionate to our longstanding trading relationship. Mr Ryan said Australia will face these much higher tariffs even though the country accounts for just 8 per cent of China’s beef imports. “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,” he said. “The combination of external trade barriers and rising domestic costs means 2026 is an exceptionally challenging year for the sector. Chinese state media outlet the Global Times reported at the start of the year Australia would soon reach its quota. “Previously, the ministry announced in March that imports of beef from Australia had reached 50 per cent of the annual quota under its safeguard measures, and reached 80 per cent in May,” it reported. Australian beef has long been targeted by international competitors, given the demand for local beef has grown, and the safeguards put on international beef coming into the country. During a wide-ranging speech in April 2025 US president Donald Trump directly took aim at Australian farmers. “Australia bans – and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef,” President Trump said. “Yet we imported $3bn of Australian beef from them just last year alone. “They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers.”