China's imports from Australia and Brazil are rapidly approaching quota limits set under its trade safeguard measures, threatening to trigger steep tariffs for two of China's top agricultural suppliers, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

Earlier this month, China announced new safeguard measures on beef imports, establishing strict tariff-rate-quotas for major trading partners. The impact of the new quotas varies significantly by country, with Brazil taking the largest hit.

Brazil is the latest WTO Member to request consultations under the Safeguards Agreement related to China's beef safeguards measures, following earlier requests from Australia and the U.S.

After China notified the WTO's Safeguards Committee of a finding of serious injury or threat thereof to its domestic beef industry as part of a safeguards investigation, the U.S. and Australia pushed back with requests for consultations under the Safeguards Agreement.

On December 31, China concluded its safeguard investigation on beef, with a new tariff-rate-quota mechanism effective on January 1, 2026.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) recently extended the high-stakes beef safeguard investigation for a second time, a move underscoring the complexity of the case. It also initiated new expiry reviews on trade remedy measures targeting imports from the U.S. and trading partners.

On August 6, China's Ministry of Commerce extended its safeguard investigation into beef imports, a move that comes as the government faces a large volume of submissions and complex issues in the case.