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Australian beef exports to China has to face an additional 55% tariff after hitting Beijing’s annual quota limit, which could impact trade flows and prompt producers to seek new markets for red meat.
The Chinese government in December imposed a quota of 205,000 tonnes on beef imports from Australia as part of a range of trade limits on major red meat-producing nations, including Brazil and Argentina, in a push to protect local farmers. Australia has now reached that quota, triggering the 55 per cent tariff which has been in place until the end of 2026.
Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) chief executive Tim Ryan said the development marks a critical point for the industry. “Hitting 100 per cent of the quota is a major and consequential milestone, with immediate impacts for Australian exporters."
AMIC has consistently noted the quota allocated to Australia was not reflective of demand and was disproportionate to our longstanding trading relationship. Mr Ryan said Australia will face these much higher tariffs even though the country accounts for just 8 per cent of China’s beef imports.
“A tariff of this scale will severely disrupt trade flows into one of our most important markets, and impact the ability for Chinese consumers to access safe, reliable Australian beef,” he said.
“We will continue to work with our members and partners in the Australian Government to advocate for improved trading conditions which facilitate a more stable and reliable trade in Australian beef to China."
Source: AMIC | Image: Beef Central
Final call for for WA Export Roundtable Breakfast #2
The DPIRD's 2026 WA Export Roundtable Breakfast Series has successfully commenced, delivering high-impact, strategic and experience-led insights into today's complex global trade landscape to empower WA agrifood and beverage exporters.
Stepping directly into this critical trade dialogue, Roundtable Breakfast #2 turns the spotlight on one of the most vital decisions in any export journey: selecting the right market with absolute confidence. This session challenges conventional wisdom by exploring what truly makes an export market durable, and why relying solely on market size and geographic proximity can often mislead businesses. Attendees will dive deep into market fit, demand stability, procurement behavior, and strategic sequencing.
Key themes include:
- Why businesses choose the wrong markets
- What actually makes a market durable
- The operational fit question
- Market sequencing
The Roundtable Breakfast #2 is scheduled for June 25, with limited seating still available, please secure your tickets here as soon as possible. Registrations received after capacity is reached will be added to a waitlist.
Source: DPIRD | Image: iStock
Updates developed in collaboration with International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of Australia Limited (IFCBAA).
South Asia, Middle East and Africa
- The Australia Saudi Business Council signed a memorandum of understanding to bring Saudia Cargo freighter operations directly into Australia. The flights are slated to operate out of regional hubs. These include Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and Avalon Airport.
- Smartraveller has reviewed its travel advice for the Middle East and lowered the overall travel advice level to Level 3.
- Several airlines have increased services between Melbourne and the Middle East this week:
- Emirates is currently operating twice-daily services via Dubai.
- Qatar Airways has returned to double-daily services via Doha.
- Etihad Airways has increased to 5 services per week via Abu Dhabi.
- Virgin Australia announced that:
- services between Sydney and Melbourne and Doha (operated by Qatar Airways) have resumed
- services between Brisbane and Perth and Doha (operated by Qatar Airways) are planned to resume from 15 September 2026.
Europe
- In October 2027, Qantas will start direct daily non-stop flights from Sydney to London, saving up to 4 hours in flight time. This could be important for cargo with short shelf life.
Greater China and Northeast Asia
- Space is tightening on services from Australia to China due to container imbalances. More empty containers are being re-exported by shipping carriers. This is to help get containers to bigger markets.
Source and image: Go Global Toolkit
Australian wine exporters are strengthening their position across the Asia Pacific region, with trade, education and promotional initiatives helping to increase visibility, deepen trade relationships and support growth in key markets.
Across Japan, China and Southeast Asia, targeted programs are helping exporters build market presence, strengthen trade connections and respond to changing consumer and trade demand.
Inbound visitation programs are helping build a network of advocates for Australian wine across the region, supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through the Grape and Wine Sector Long Term Viability Support Package.
Trade professionals from Japan and wine educators from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan recently travelled to Australia for programs spanning the Hunter Valley, Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.
The visits connected buyers and educators directly with producers, wine regions and grape varieties to strengthen their understanding of Australian wine and improve their ability to represent it in their home markets.
Wine Australia said programs such as these help exporters address the challenge of communicating Australia’s diversity and evolving wine styles to international markets. Better informed trade professionals and educators can provide more effective advocacy and storytelling at the point of sale.
The visitation program is being complemented by education seminars across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines throughout 2026. Delivered by Wine Australia education development manager Asia Pacific Kati Vainionpää in collaboration with local educators, the seminars target wine professionals, hospitality and food and beverage operators, education organisations and wine influencers.
Source and image: Wine Australia
Join Registrar Corp for an in-depth webinar designed for seafood exporters looking to enter or expand in the U.S. market.
The United States represents a major growth opportunity for seafood exporters. It is one of the world’s largest seafood importers, with over $25 billion in annual imports and over 60% of its seafood supply sourced from abroad. However, exporting seafood to the U.S. involves complex and highly specialized regulatory requirements that differ significantly from other food products.
In this webinar, the experts will break down key U.S. FDA requirements for seafood, including HACCP plan expectations, FCE-SID requirements for canned products, and other critical compliance considerations. The session will also cover the new 2026 Certificate of Admissibility (COA) requirement under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which will impact exporters from several countries in the region.
Whether you are new to the U.S. market or looking to strengthen your compliance strategy, this session will provide practical insights to help you navigate regulations with confidence. A live Q&A session will follow.
Date & time
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Register now
Source: Austrade/Registrar Corp | Image: iStock
Australia has helped shape new international food labelling guidance that will support food trade during emergencies and promote a consistent approach to providing precautionary allergen information to consumers.
The outcomes follow the 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Food labelling (CCFL49), held in Ottawa, Canada in May 2026. Australia’s delegation was led by labelling experts from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), with support from DAFF’s Codex team and technical input from the department’s Export Standards Branch.
One of the key outcomes from CCFL49 was the finalisation of guidance to support the consideration of food labelling flexibilities during emergencies. The guidance is designed to help regulators respond to supply chain disruptions by supporting continued food supply and trade while maintaining consumer protections and fair trading practices.
Australia worked to help ensure the guidance can support global trade during disruptions that affect supply chains, including circumstances where an emergency occurs outside the importing country. This guidance outlines practical considerations and responsibilities for regulators in permitting labelling flexibilities help to maintain domestic or international food supply chains during emergencies.
The committee also finalised international guidance on the use of precautionary allergen labelling, marking an important milestone in work co-led by Australia over several years. Australia supported the scientific, risk-based approach to precautionary allergen labelling agreed by the committee, which mirrors Australia’s evidence-based approach to mandatory allergen declaration. This agreed guidance promotes the alignment of existing and any future regulation on precautionary allergen labelling across markets, providing increased consistency for consumers with food allergy.
Australia will continue to contribute to international discussions supporting food security, consumer health protection and market access for Australian agriculture.
This committee is one of many held throughout the year, including the Australian-hosted Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). CCFICS28 will take place in Perth from 12 to 17 October 2026.
Source and photo: DAFF
Further information
Agribusiness, commercial fishing and aquaculture news from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). If you have any questions or information to share, please email export@dpird.wa.gov.au.
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Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2026.
