Brazil Seeks Uruguay’s 80,000-Ton China Beef Quota

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Uruguay has authorized Brazil to use roughly 80,000 metric tons of its unused 2026 beef-export quota for China, following a meeting with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi in New York. The arrangement still requires approval from Beijing, which has not publicly confirmed the transfer. Brazil has nearly exhausted its own quota of about 1.1 million metric tons, while shipments beyond the country-specific limit face an additional 55% tariff on top of the existing duty, bringing the total burden to as much as 67%. The potential transfer could provide Brazil with about one month of additional exports, although its impact would be more significant if extended to 2027, when Brazil’s quota may be exhausted early. The agreement comes as Brazilian beef exports face broader restrictions and are expected to decline in 2026.