SYDNEY, New South Wales – Australia has lifted biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States, a move that addresses a key grievance of the Trump administration.
The decision, announced by Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, follows a comprehensive review by the Agriculture Department, which determined that the US had implemented more robust movement controls to ensure the traceability of cattle and mitigate biosecurity risks.
The restrictions, in place since 2003, were imposed due to concerns over mad cow disease.
While US beef was allowed into Australia since 2019, certain products were banned due to the integrated nature of the American supply chain, making it difficult to trace the origin of the beef.
Strong opposition voices were heard, with Nationals Leader David Littleproud expressing concerns that the decision may have been made to appease the Trump administration.
“What we need to provide is confidence, and as legislators [with] something as serious as biosecurity, we can’t allow that to be traded away,” Mr. Littleproud said.
In response, Will Evans, CEO of Cattle Australia, said the department’s technical and scientific assessment should be trusted.
“We are a global advocate for rules and science-based trading. Unfortunately, in this circumstance, it means we have to open a door that, as a producer, you probably wouldn’t want to open.”
The decision is expected to have significant trade implications, as Australia is a major beef exporter to the US. Last year, $14 billion in Australian beef was sold to the US, making it the single largest market.