Australian beef could be hit by 55 per cent tariff in China within days

Australian beef will soon be subject to an additional 55 per cent import duty in China. (Supplied: Stanbroke)

China is cracking down on beef imports and says it is ready to slap Australia with an additional 55 per cent tariff in the coming days.

Australia has already reached 90 per cent of an annual beef import quota that China introduced at the start of the year.

Once the quota is hit, subsequent beef imports into China will be subject to the tariff, which is likely to impact demand from one of Australia's largest markets.

China has warned Australia it could be slapped with an additional 55 per cent tariff on beef imports within days if it exceeds new shipment quotas.

Starting this year, Beijing introduced new quota and tariff arrangements for major beef import countries including Australia in a bid to protect local farms and beef producers.

Australia's annual import quota was set at 205,000 tonnes of beef shipments, about one-third lower than its total imports into China from 2025.

Once that load is exceeded, a 55 per cent trade impost will soon come into effect.

An Australian meat industry peak body is "extremely disappointed" after China imposes a new tariff on Australian beef imports.

Earlier this week China's Ministry of Finance and Commerce issued an alert to Australia that it had reached about 90 per cent of its quota, just six months into the year.

China's state media said the ministry's alert notice was the fourth issued to Australia since the new quota system started.

"Previously, the ministry announced in March that imports of beef from Australia had reached 50 per cent of the annual quota under its safeguard measures, and reached 80 per cent in May," said the Global Times, a major English state media site.

Australian beef is highly prized in China and is sought after in restaurants and high-end supermarkets for what is perceived as better taste and quality.

The Australian government has lobbied China to lift or expand the 2026 quota level, but Beijing has shown no indication of movement.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) general manager of international markets Andrew Cox said there would likely be a reduction in trade to China once the new tariffs are imposed.

"I don't think it will totally stop, but certainly 55 per cent is a significant barrier to trade," he said.

"There's no doubt we'll be sending significantly less beef in the second half of the year, but I can't give you an exact figure.

Australian beef imports used to be subject to low or even zero tariffs in China under a bilateral free-trade agreement, but that cha