China Commerce ministry launches safeguard investigation into imported beef

China Ministry of Commerce will launch an investigation into beef imports, it said Dec. 27, based on claims that soaring imports have had a significant adverse impact on its domestic beef processors.

The probe is expected to cover the country's main beef trading partners, such as Brazil, Australia, and Argentina.

The application for an investigation from domestic associations comes when China's domestic industry is struggling. According to the China Animal Husbandry Association, most beef cattle farms are operating at a loss — beef prices have fallen to their lowest level in the last five years and the price of live cattle has fallen to its lowest level in the last 10 years, according to China news outlets.

According to a statement from the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association, or ABIEC, Brazil will seek to demonstrate that the beef it exports to China does not cause any type of harm to the Chinese industry, and is, on the contrary, an important factor in complementing Chinese production.

"In principle, no preliminary measures will be adopted, and the 12% tariff that China applies to beef imports will remain in force," ABIEC said.

ABIEC added that it was committed to defending Brazil's agribusiness sector and was "always seeking constructive dialogue in search of mutually beneficial solutions" with China.