Australia has lifted its ban on US beef following a major biosecurity review – eliminating a key reason previously cited by the Trump administration for imposing tariffs.
Last month, the Prime Minister resisted pressure from the Trump administration to accept beef from Canadian and Mexican cattle processed in the US, insisting that Australia’s strict biosecurity laws would not be compromised – a position strongly supported by Nationals MPs and cattle farmers.
However, despite that stance, the biosecurity ban on US beef imports was overturned last night.
The ban on US beef was aimed at preventing a potential $80 billion foot-and-mouth outbreak and keeping Mad Cow disease out of Australia.
But late last year, America introduced strict new tracking rules covering all cattle, including those from Canada and Mexico.
‘The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity,’ Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins said.
‘The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade.
‘The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks.
‘Australia stands for open and fair trade – our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this.’
Canberra is set to leverage the relaxed US beef import rules to push for tariff relief, targeting the 50 per cent steel and aluminium duty, a proposed 200 per cent pharmaceutical tariff, and the 10 per cent charge on other exports, including beef.
Australia has lifted its ban on US beef following a major biosecurity review – eliminating a key reason previously cited by the Trump administration for imposing tariffs
‘Australia bans, and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything, but they ban American beef,’ Trump said in April as he announced tariffs.
‘Yet we imported $3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. They won’t take any of our beef.
‘They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and, you know, I don’t blame them, but we’re doing the same thing right now.’
Shortly after, Albanese said the issue was not up for negotiation.
‘No, we will not change or compromise any of the issues regarding biosecurity, full stop, exclamation mark, it’s simply not worth it. So it’s that simple,’ Albanese said at the time.
‘If things can be sorted out in a way that protects our biosecurity, of course, we don’t just say no, we don’t want imports in here for the sake of it. But our first priority is biosecurity and there’ll be no compromise on that.’
His backdown marks a dramatic shift in how the Albanese government is dealing with the Trump administration as it fights to secure a better deal.
The decision comes as the government confirmed that, under the AUKUS agreement, Australia paid the US another $800million at the end of the June quarter. The money will help the US boost its submarine production so it can sell Australia two second-hand nuclear-powered submarines.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese still has not had an opportunity to meet with Donald Trump
This contribution is part of Australia’s commitment to pay over $3billion to the US to under the AUKUS pact.
The money was handed over without an announcement.
‘The payments are occurring in line with Australia’s commitment to contribute $US2 billion by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes,’ a Defence spokesman said in a statement.
Albanese still hasn’t had an opportunity to meet with Trump.
The pair were supposed to meet at the G7 summit in Canada last month, but the US President left early to oversee a US strike on Iranian nuclear assets.
A meeting between the pair has been set for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in September in India.
If Trump does not attend, the next opportunity will be when Albanese visits the US for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the PM also looking to visit Washington DC.
Meanwhile, Australia’s ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd had a private meeting in January.
Little is known about what was said at the meeting.
Concerns have been raised about whether Mr Rudd is the right person to engage with Trump, given his past remarks about the president.
In 2021, Mr Rudd referred to Trump as a ‘village idiot,’ a ‘traitor to the West,’ and ‘the most destructive president in history.’
