The Federal Government on Thursday, July 24, revealed it would lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef as it seeks a way to dampen the blow of President Donald Trump’s volatile tariff regime.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stressed the decision followed a decade-long science-based review.
Cattle Australia chief executive Will Evans believed the move would not have been made unless the government had the utmost confidence in the science, but said some would still be unhappy with its decision.
‘’There’s going to be a lot of people today who feel blindsided by this, there’s going to be a lot of people who are going to feel really frustrated and threatened by this,’’ he told ABC radio.
Some have raised worries US beef could impact Australia’s domestic market, but industry representatives remain relatively unperturbed.
The US has been able to send beef to Australia since 2019, though any beef raised in Canada or Mexico before being slaughtered and processed in the US was previously barred due to biosecurity concerns.
But the latest announcement will lift the ban on beef sourced from Canada or Mexico after the US introduced more robust movement controls in late 2024 and early 2025, allowing for improved identification and tracing throughout the supply chain.
‘’We have not compromised on biosecurity,’’ Ms Collins said.
‘’(The department) is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks.’’
The change is widely viewed as a bargaining chip Australia could use while attempting to push for tariff exemptions from the US.
Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan also said there were more questions to be answered and maintained the government needed to ensure biosecurity protocols had not been weakened.
Many Australian goods sent to the US currently face the baseline 10 per cent tariff, while steel and aluminium products have been slapped with a 50 per cent tariff.
– AAP
