China pledges fair ruling in beef tariff investigation

Ella Cao and Tom Polansek

Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 2:49 AM 2 min read

By Ella Cao and Tom Polansek

BEIJING (Reuters) - China pledged to present a "fair and objective" ruling pursuing a proceeding successful its ongoing probe into beef imports, a reappraisal that could pb to higher tariffs oregon import limits if home producers are recovered to beryllium astatine risk.

Launched past year, the probe covers each imported beef alternatively than immoderate circumstantial state and comes arsenic slowing request and a home proviso glut compression China's beef marketplace - the world's largest for imports and consumption.

Monday's proceeding brought unneurotic astir 180 representatives, including officials from large suppliers Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia and the United States, China's Ministry of Commerce said successful a statement. Exporters, commercialized associations, Chinese importers and home beef producers, besides attended, the ministry said. China imported a grounds 2.87 cardinal metric tons of beef successful 2024, according to customs data, heightening concerns implicit imaginable commercialized restrictions that could deed apical suppliers.

U.S. Meat Export Federation spokesperson Joe Schuele said U.S. beef chiefly served China's high-end nutrient work and retail sectors, and did not vie straight with home beef which is often priced astatine little levels.

"We don't consciousness that immoderate restrictions connected U.S. beef are going to payment the home industry," Schuele said.

A Brazilian beef consultant, speaking connected information of anonymity, said Brazilian beef was price-competitive and overlapped with segments of China's home market. "Everyone present is disquieted astir the result of this investigation," said the consultant. The industry's concerns person been amplified by caller developments. Last month, Chinese customs temporarily suspended beef imports from six companies successful Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries said successful March the companies had failed to conscionable Chinese requirements for the registration of overseas establishments, but did not elaborate. Among the affected factories is 1 successful Brazil's Goiás authorities that is owned by nutrient packing elephantine JBS and is 1 of the biggest beef export plants to China.

"Traders fearfulness much suspensions could beryllium looming," the advisor said. The nutrient investigation, which began connected December 27, is expected to past 8 months but could beryllium extended nether peculiar circumstances. Meanwhile, China has yet to renew export registrations for U.S. beef facilities that expired connected March 16, starring to hesitation among traders to onslaught deals for American beef produced aft that date. The U.S. beef manufacture is already navigating a 10% tariff imposed arsenic portion of China's retaliatory duties connected immoderate $21 cardinal worthy of American workplace goods. Any further commercialized restrictions would further strain sales.