The minister of livestock, agriculture and fisheries, Alfredo Fratti, said that China’s decision to apply a 55% tariff on beef imports exceeding certain quotas does not harm Uruguay and, on the contrary, represents a favorable scenario. “Not only is it not a serious problem, I believe it is positive news,” he said in comments to Subrayado, stressing that Uruguay is authorized to export up to 324,000 tons tariff-free, a volume that has never been reached.
Fratti reviewed export volumes to China in recent years: according to the figures he cited, shipments did not reach 200,000 tons in 2025, totaled 274,000 tons in 2023, and only slightly exceeded the quota in 2022. He underlined that there is “special consideration” for Uruguay and noted that Brazil will face a significant cut, almost 25% compared with what it had been exporting. “If other countries in the region reduce their shipments and China continues to need beef, it is likely that we will be able to increase our sales within the allowed quota,” he said.
The minister attributed this positioning to Uruguay’s institutional reliability and solid diplomatic relations. He mentioned that days before the announcement he met with the Chinese ambassador, who conveyed confidence that Uruguay would not be harmed by the measure. According to Fratti, the decision responds to an internal Chinese issue linked to complaints from local producers about prices and mainly affects the region’s largest suppliers.
He also referred to the recent return of three containers due to sanitary issues, noting that China had arguments to suspend purchases but chose not to do so, which reinforces mutual trust. “Uruguay maintains its position thanks to credibility in markets and the prestige of its sanitary system,” he said, highlighting the role of the MGAP and INAC in maintaining internationally recognized standards.
