China imposes additional 55% duty on Brazilian beef

From October 1, China will impose an additional 55% duty on Brazilian beef imports exceeding the established quota. The new duty will be charged on top of the existing applicable rate.

For 2026, China set Brazil’s beef import quota at 1.1 mln tons. Once the quota is fully used, further shipments will be subject to the additional 55% duty.

Brazil has sought to reallocate unused quotas from other suppliers. Uruguay agreed to allow Brazil to use part of its unused volume, but China has not approved such a mechanism so far.

China remains the largest buyer of Brazilian beef, meaning the quota limit could significantly complicate shipments for the rest of the year. Market participants are also waiting to see whether Beijing will extend the quota system into 2027.

Brazilian industry group Abiec estimates that the country’s total beef exports could decline by 10% year-on-year in 2026. The main factors include restrictions in the Chinese market and a recent reduction in access for Brazilian meat to the EU market.

Tags: China, Brazil, Beef cattle, import duty