China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday it has prolonged its safeguard investigation into beef imports by three months, pushing the deadline to 26 November 2025. The probe, which began in December at the request of domestic industry groups, was initially scheduled to conclude this month. MOFCOM cited the complexity of the case and the volume of submissions from exporting nations, livestock farmers and trade associations as reasons for the extension. Authorities are assessing whether rising shipments have “significantly harmed” China’s cattle sector, where prices have fallen amid oversupply and sluggish demand in the slowing economy. China is a critical market for global exporters such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia, which have benefited from surging beef sales to the world’s second-largest economy. A decision to impose safeguard measures could reshape trade flows and raise costs for importers ahead of the year-end holiday season.