Delay of possible Chinese restrictions on meat raises market apprehension

China has extended its investigations into the potential impacts of beef imports on its local production by another two months. Now, the issue remains under review until January 26, 2026. The Ministry of Commerce of the Asian giant justified the postponement based on the complexity of the case, which has been under investigation since December 2024. According to Market Analyst Beatriz Bianchi from the consultancy Datagro, the decision reinforces a tone of uncertainty and apprehension in the market. “We have a horizon that eventually awaits possible restrictive measures, whether they are tariffs, quotas, or sanitary issues,” she details. According to her, in recent months China has imported substantial volumes of Brazilian beef protein, with September, October, and November seeing record levels above 180,000 tons monthly. “In this context, we have a China that is very well supplied internally, coupled with a still robust local production. Thus, at the end of the year, it is ...