The new tariff is slated to be in effect for a duration of three years, beginning on January 1, 2026.

Although the Australian red meat industry has yet to fully assess the potential repercussions of these tariffs, it appears that Australian exporters might be better positioned to handle them compared to prior trade adjustments.

In December 2024, the China Animal Agriculture Association, along with nine other agricultural groups, appealed to China’s Ministry of Commerce. They requested an investigation into how red meat imports could be affecting local products and industries.

China approached the investigation with caution, opting to extend the deadline by an additional three months. This decision was attributed to the need for thorough examination of a substantial amount of material, given the complexity of the case.

In recent times, the growing demand for Australian beef has led exporters to activate more safeguard provisions. These mechanisms permit importing nations to limit imports in order to protect their domestic markets.

How will tariffs impact Australian exporters?

In recent years, as the demand for Australian beef has grown, Australian exporters have triggered more safeguard provisions — a mechanism that allows importing countries to restrict imports to protect their domestic sectors.

Two months later, South Korea — which had also signed a free trade agreement with Australia and was Australia’s third-largest export destination in 2024 — also had the beef safeguard triggered.

Exporters have learned the China lesson

“Australian exporters thrive when they have diversified markets. China has presented some wonderful opportunities for the Australian beef industry over the years, but of course, it’s also come with a certain amount of volatility.”

In November, following rounds of negotiations, the US lifted the 10 per cent tariffs on Australian beef. However, there was still a 17 per cent increase in exported Australian beef to the US in the first 10 months of 2025 compared to 2024.