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| Trump administration claims credit for Australia lifting ban on US beef imports | Trump administration claims credit for Australia lifting ban on US beef imports |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Move expected to help negotiations with US for lower trade tariffs on exports, but Labor says decision was made after scientific assessment | Move expected to help negotiations with US for lower trade tariffs on exports, but Labor says decision was made after scientific assessment |
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| The Trump administration has claimed credit for Labor’s decision to lift restrictions on imports of US beef into Australia, saying non-scientific trade barriers had left American farmers “on the sidelines” for two decades. | The Trump administration has claimed credit for Labor’s decision to lift restrictions on imports of US beef into Australia, saying non-scientific trade barriers had left American farmers “on the sidelines” for two decades. |
| The government confirmed on Thursday morning that the agriculture department would allow imports into Australia of meat processed in the US but grown in Mexico and Canada. | The government confirmed on Thursday morning that the agriculture department would allow imports into Australia of meat processed in the US but grown in Mexico and Canada. |
| The notable shift in stance came as Labor pushes the White House for relief from new tariffs on pharmaceuticals and steel and aluminium. | The notable shift in stance came as Labor pushes the White House for relief from new tariffs on pharmaceuticals and steel and aluminium. |
| The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, claimed the decision was unrelated to President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war, even as her US counterpart, Brooke L Rollins, congratulated Trump for securing the major breakthrough. | The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, claimed the decision was unrelated to President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war, even as her US counterpart, Brooke L Rollins, congratulated Trump for securing the major breakthrough. |
| “American farmers and ranchers produce the safest, healthiest beef in the world,” Rollins said. | “American farmers and ranchers produce the safest, healthiest beef in the world,” Rollins said. |
| “It’s absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years. Gone are the days of putting American farmers on the sidelines. | “It’s absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years. Gone are the days of putting American farmers on the sidelines. |
| “This is yet another example of the kind of market access the president negotiates to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, with American agriculture leading the way.” | “This is yet another example of the kind of market access the president negotiates to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, with American agriculture leading the way.” |
| A ban on beef from cows raised and slaughtered in the US was lifted in 2019 but restrictions remained on beef from cattle raised from Canada and Mexico. | A ban on beef from cows raised and slaughtered in the US was lifted in 2019 but restrictions remained on beef from cattle raised from Canada and Mexico. |
| The concession was expected to help pave the way for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to argue the case to Trump that Australia should be given exemptions from the US’s 50% tariff on steel and aluminium, and a looming 200% tariff planned for pharmaceuticals. | The concession was expected to help pave the way for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to argue the case to Trump that Australia should be given exemptions from the US’s 50% tariff on steel and aluminium, and a looming 200% tariff planned for pharmaceuticals. |
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| The US president specifically cited Australia’s restrictions on beef imports when he announced his “Liberation Day” tariff regime. Australia faces a 10% baseline tariff on all products exported to the US. | The US president specifically cited Australia’s restrictions on beef imports when he announced his “Liberation Day” tariff regime. Australia faces a 10% baseline tariff on all products exported to the US. |
| During the federal election campaign, Albanese said Australia would not change or compromise any biosecurity rules, “full stop, exclamation mark”. Despite the comments, a concession on beef had been expected from Australia. | During the federal election campaign, Albanese said Australia would not change or compromise any biosecurity rules, “full stop, exclamation mark”. Despite the comments, a concession on beef had been expected from Australia. |
| Collins said the government wanted fair and open trade, which significantly benefited the cattle industry. | Collins said the government wanted fair and open trade, which significantly benefited the cattle industry. |
| “The US beef imports review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade.” | “The US beef imports review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade.” |
| Asked if the move would help with trade negotiations with the Trump White House, Collins said: “That will be determined but this decision is based on science, and is the culmination of a five-year period.” | Asked if the move would help with trade negotiations with the Trump White House, Collins said: “That will be determined but this decision is based on science, and is the culmination of a five-year period.” |
| Detail on the changes published by the department showed the tracing systems rely on tamper-proof ear tags approved by US officials, with tag numbers recorded in appropriate export documentation so animals can be traced back to their farm of origin. | Detail on the changes published by the department showed the tracing systems rely on tamper-proof ear tags approved by US officials, with tag numbers recorded in appropriate export documentation so animals can be traced back to their farm of origin. |
| Each animal will also have branding on their skin. | Each animal will also have branding on their skin. |
| American beef herds are at a multi-decade low, and farmers are slaughtering fewer animals than they were a year ago. Beef exports to the US from Australia were up 24% year-on-year in June, Meat and Livestock Australia said. | |
| The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, said he was “suspicious” about the speed of the decision, months after Trump’s comments. | The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, said he was “suspicious” about the speed of the decision, months after Trump’s comments. |
| “I want to see the science and it should be predicated on science,” he told ABC radio. | “I want to see the science and it should be predicated on science,” he told ABC radio. |
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| “I’m suspicious by the speed in which this has been done. It looks as though it’s been traded away to appease Donald Trump, and that’s what we don’t want.” | “I’m suspicious by the speed in which this has been done. It looks as though it’s been traded away to appease Donald Trump, and that’s what we don’t want.” |
| But the trade minister, Don Farrell, said there was “nothing suspicious” about the timing. | But the trade minister, Don Farrell, said there was “nothing suspicious” about the timing. |
| “If we want to export our beef overseas, then we have to accept that other countries will want to import their beef into Australia. The job of the federal government is to make absolutely certain that there is no biosecurity risk as a result of that. We’ve done that.” | “If we want to export our beef overseas, then we have to accept that other countries will want to import their beef into Australia. The job of the federal government is to make absolutely certain that there is no biosecurity risk as a result of that. We’ve done that.” |
| The new arrangements were due to come into place on 28 July, with Australian importers able to apply for permits to handle fresh beef products from the US, the largest buyer of Australian beef, ahead of China, in a $14bn market. | The new arrangements were due to come into place on 28 July, with Australian importers able to apply for permits to handle fresh beef products from the US, the largest buyer of Australian beef, ahead of China, in a $14bn market. |
| ‘Frustrated and threatened’ | ‘Frustrated and threatened’ |
| Will Evans, the chief executive of Cattle Australia, told ABC RN on Thursday morning that there would be “a lot of people today who feel blind-sided by this”, but it was important to recognise that the decision was backed by science and the trade terms were still in Australia’s favour. | Will Evans, the chief executive of Cattle Australia, told ABC RN on Thursday morning that there would be “a lot of people today who feel blind-sided by this”, but it was important to recognise that the decision was backed by science and the trade terms were still in Australia’s favour. |
| “There’s going to be a lot of people today who are going to feel really frustrated and threatened by this. What we need to do is talk to them about these technical steps that have been taken, these are the assessments that’s been taken, and this is why the decision’s been made,” Evans said. | “There’s going to be a lot of people today who are going to feel really frustrated and threatened by this. What we need to do is talk to them about these technical steps that have been taken, these are the assessments that’s been taken, and this is why the decision’s been made,” Evans said. |
| Australia was a “global advocate for rules of science-based trading”, but it was unfortunate that in this circumstance the government has had to “open a door that we probably, as a producer, you probably wouldn’t want to open”, Evans said. “But we have to recognise that the science has been used to make this decision”. | Australia was a “global advocate for rules of science-based trading”, but it was unfortunate that in this circumstance the government has had to “open a door that we probably, as a producer, you probably wouldn’t want to open”, Evans said. “But we have to recognise that the science has been used to make this decision”. |
| “This is a big and very valuable market to Australian cattle producers,” Evans said. “Australia exports more than $4bn of beef a year into the US. It’s one of our largest and most important partners. In the last six months, we’ve been breaking records in terms of the amount of volume that we’re putting into the market, given that the US herd is currently at record lows.” | “This is a big and very valuable market to Australian cattle producers,” Evans said. “Australia exports more than $4bn of beef a year into the US. It’s one of our largest and most important partners. In the last six months, we’ve been breaking records in terms of the amount of volume that we’re putting into the market, given that the US herd is currently at record lows.” |
| The National Farmers Federation president, David Jochinke, said the US request for more market access should be dealt with separately from tariff negotiations. | The National Farmers Federation president, David Jochinke, said the US request for more market access should be dealt with separately from tariff negotiations. |
| “The Australian government has assured industry that they have undertaken the standard, science-based review process to protect Australia’s biosecurity. | “The Australian government has assured industry that they have undertaken the standard, science-based review process to protect Australia’s biosecurity. |
| “Free and fair trade relies on the reciprocal recognition of trusted standards and processes between trading partners,” he said. | “Free and fair trade relies on the reciprocal recognition of trusted standards and processes between trading partners,” he said. |