A method for implementing rate adjustment at a transmit end, comprising: receiving, by a first network device, a first data packet of a first data stream sent by a previous-hop network device and receiving, by the first network device, a data packet of a second data stream sent by a different network device to the network device from which the first data packet was sent, wherein the first data packet comprises a first required rate, a first deadline, and a first sending rate that correspond to the first data stream, and the first sending rate is used to indicate a minimum sending rate of the first data stream that is obtained by the previous-hop network device; obtaining, by the first network device, a second sending rate of the first data stream based on the first required rate and the first deadline that correspond to the first data stream, and a second required rate and a second deadline that correspond to the second data stream, wherein the second required rate is a required rate for sending the second data stream, and the second deadline is a deadline for sending the second data stream, and wherein the data packet of the second data stream carries the second required rate and the second deadline; data packets included in the second data stream are different from data packets included in the first data stream; and sending, by the first network device, a feedback packet to a second network device when the second sending rate is less than the first sending rate, wherein the feedback packet comprises the second sending rate, and the feedback packet is used to instruct the second network device to inform, based on the second sending rate, the transmit end to adjust a rate for sending the first data stream. receiving, by a first network device, a first data packet of a first data stream sent by a previous-hop network device and receiving, by the first network device, a data packet of a second data stream sent by a different network device to the network device from which the first data packet was sent, wherein the first data packet comprises a first required rate, a first deadline, and a first sending rate that correspond to the first data stream, and the first sending rate is used to indicate a minimum sending rate of the first data stream that is obtained by the previous-hop network device; obtaining, by the first network device, a second sending rate of the first data stream based on the first required rate and the first deadline that correspond to the first data stream, and a second required rate and a second deadline that correspond to the second data stream, wherein the second required rate is a required rate for sending the second data stream, and the second deadline is a deadline for sending the second data stream, and wherein the data packet of the second data stream carries the second required rate and the second deadline; data packets included in the second data stream are different from data packets included in the first data stream; and sending, by the first network device, a feedback packet to a second network device when the second sending rate is less than the first sending rate, wherein the feedback packet comprises the second sending rate, and the feedback packet is used to instruct the second network device to inform, based on the second sending rate, the transmit end to adjust a rate for sending the first data stream.