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China says Australia has reached beef quota, triggering 55% tariff

China's General Administration of Customs has confirmed Australia became the first major supplier to hit its 2026 beef import quota and that further shipments through year-end will face a 55% tariff. The decision puts pressure on Australia's red-meat exporters facing $1.9bn in annual revenue. In Canberra, the Albanese government called an emergency sector meeting.

Aerial view of a container ship at a port under overcast sky
Aerial view of a container ship at a port under overcast skyPhoto: Ollie Craig / Pexels
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China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) confirmed on Friday that Australia had filled its 2026 beef import quota before midyear, becoming the first major supplier to hit that threshold. Shipments above the quota will be subject to a 55% tariff through 31 December. The United States, Brazil and Argentina are expected to reach their quotas by late summer.

Australian Meat and Livestock Council President John McKillop called the decision 'a serious but manageable blow' for the sector. Some exporters have started redirecting cargoes to Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced that the Albanese government will convene an emergency meeting on Monday in Canberra with major beef processors and state governments.

Australia's annual beef exports to China were worth about A$2.9bn (around $1.9bn) in 2025. Sector analysts warn that the tariff could result in roughly A$500m in lost direct sales by year-end. On the ASX, Australian Agricultural Co. shares fell 4.2% and Elders 3.1%. The Australian dollar slipped 0.3 cents against the US dollar.

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Source: Nikkei Asia
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This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by Nikkei Asia. The illustration is a stock photo by Ollie Craig from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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