BEIJING -- China has decided to implement safeguard measures on imported beef from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028, the Ministry of Commerce announced Wednesday.

The decision came after a final ruling of a safeguard investigation into imported meat of bovine animals, which was launched on Dec 27, 2024.

The measures will be implemented in the form of country-specific tariff rate quotas, the ministry said. Imported beef exceeding the specified quantities will be subject to additional tariff rate of 55 percent.

The measures will be in effect for a period of three years, and will be progressively relaxed at fixed intervals during the implementation period, the ministry said.

For products originating from developing countries or regions, safeguard measures shall not apply if the import share of an individual country or region does not exceed 3 percent, and the total import share of all such countries and regions does not exceed 9 percent. However, safeguard measures will apply to these countries or regions starting from the following year if the conditions are not met.