China will launch an investigation into beef imports, the commerce ministry said on Friday, as the world's biggest meat importer grapples with an oversupplied market that is hammering domestic prices.
The implementation of any trade measures designed to reduce beef imports would hit China's largest suppliers, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.
The inquiry will focus on fresh beef, cold beef, head of beef and frozen beef imported between Jan. 1, 2019 and June 30, 2024, the ministry said in a statement, adding that it followed an application by the China Animal Husbandry Association and other cattle and livestock groups.
The applicants claimed that a sharp increase in import volumes over the period had "seriously damaged" China's domestic industry, the ministry said.
Beef imports in 2023 were almost 65% higher than in 2019, it said, with imports in the first half of 2024 more than double those in the first half of 2019.
The ministry said imports of the products under investigation accounted for 30.90% of the Chinese market.
Average wholesale beef prices have declined 22% to 59.82 yuan ($8.20) a kilogram in late December from 77.18 yuan two years ago.
The investigation, which is expected to conclude within eight months although it could be extended in special circumstances, is not targeted at specific countries or regions, does not distinguish the origin of products, and will not affect normal trade while underway.
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