Australia lifts US beef ban setting stage for tariff talks, Trump hails backflip as ‘breakthrough’

Australia’s backflip over the ban on US beef imports as a “major trade breakthrough” for Donald Trump.

The Trump administration has seized on Australia’s backflip over the ban on US beef imports as a “major trade breakthrough” for Donald Trump.

Even though Australia is unlikely to import much beef under the changes, the US government is hailing the decision as a huge win.

The backflip is being interpreted as a symbolic olive branch to US President Donald Trump ahead of future negotiations over AUKUS and tariffs.

“American farmers and ranchers produce the safest, healthiest beef in the world. It’s absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years,” US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement.

“Gone are the days of putting American farmers on the sidelines.

The Trump administration celebrates Australia’s reversal of its ban on US beef imports as a significant trade achievement, despite the limited expected impact on beef trade. Picture: AFP

“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.”

While the US has been able to send beef to Australia since 2019, beef raised in Canada or Mexico before being slaughtered and processed in the US was previously banned.

In Parliament, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins insisted the decision had been “made by my department.”

“There has been an ongoing process now for over a decade in terms of US beef coming into Australia,’’ she said.

“The member opposite needs to be very careful about trying to undermine Australia’s biosecurity system.

“Our biosecurity system is the strongest in the world for a good reason.”

Joyce’s bull dance stuns Sky News viewers

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has weighed in on the decision to lift a biosecurity ban on US beef imports while conducting a live bull dance - of sorts - on Sky News.

Mr Joyce’s commitment to biosecurity laws is well-known after he famously threatened to euthanise Johnny Depp’s dogs Pistol and Boo after they illegally entered the country.

On Thursday, he urged the Albanese Government to seek independent advice before lifting the ban.

“The chief veterinary officer is paramount in this and his understanding of whether the risk is there,’’ he said.

“Now this is not a risk to the beef industry, it’s a risk to you, because we don’t want mad cow disease, which can kill you,” Mr Joyce told Sky News Australia.

“We don’t want to hear from a politician (if this is safe), we want to hear from a person like the chief veterinary officer and see from their face when they give the advice that this is a proper process.”

‘Bulls, woo!’

Mr Joyce also took a shot at Coalition frontbencher Dan Tehan, who compared Mr Joyce and fellow Nationals backbencher Michael McCormack – and their joint net zero opposition – to two “steers”.

“I grew up on a farm and when two steers are fighting in the neighbour’s paddock, let them fight, you let the owner know and they’ll sort all that out,” Mr Tehan told Sky News on Wednesday.

“People say they’re from the country … get it right!” Mr Joyce said on Thursday.

“Steers don’t fight, we castrate them so they don’t, right? Steers have their testicles removed, and they sit happily in the paddock and eat grass, getting as fat as possible, so I can jam them on a truck and get paid money.

“Bulls, woo!” Mr Joyce said, putting his fingers up to his head like bull’s horns.

“Bulls fight, right? And you know, you try and stay away from the bulls, and we’re not in a neighbour’s paddock, we’re actually in our own paddock.”

Aus gives into huge demand from Trump

Australia has moved to dump the ban on US beef imports that Donald Trump’s billionaire trade adviser Howard Lutnick slammed as “nonsense” in a major olive branch to end the tariff war.

The big move removes the Trump administration’s key excuse for imposing steep tariffs on Australian beef exports to the US.

Australia’s bans on fresh beef from the US was to protect against foot-and-mouth outbreak that could cost Australia $80 billion and Mad Cow disease.

But in late 2024 and early 2025, the US introduced more robust movement controls which means that all cattle, from Canada and Mexico, can be identified and traced to the farm and through the supply chain.

The Albanese Government confirmed the big move on Thursday with government sources confirming it was communicated to the US government overnight Wednesday (AEST).

“The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity,’’ Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins MP:

“The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“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.”

The announcement will allow for expanded access to include beef sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico which is legally imported and slaughtered in the US.

Biosecurity concerns

Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson said the Coalition “hopes the government knows what it’s doing.”

“We’re obviously cautious about, particularly, biosecurity measures,” he said.

“Biosecurity shouldn’t be compromised, and I really hope the government knows what it’s doing,” Wilson told ABC Radio National.

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said the ban had been lifted following a “long review” and would not hurt Australian farmers.

“We believe in free and fair trade, and our farmers very much benefit from being able to export their products right around the world,” Ms Rishworth said.

US President Donald Trump. Picture: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

“Perhaps the prime minister has found a way through this problem. Perhaps he’s found a way of ensuring that beef is only imported, that is raised and reared in the United States. If he has, he should explain how he’s done so,” Mr Paterson told Sky News this morning.

“He should stand up today and explain to the beef farmers of Australia that there is no risk for their biosecurity and that he hasn’t watered it down. But if he has watered it down, I think this is what’s going to be a very difficult one for the government to explain.”

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said more information was required.

“We do not know the details of what the government’s agreed to. We’re waiting on a briefing for that; we would be concerned around, particularly, the protocols on the slaughtering of beef out of Canada and Mexico because we do not want to bring those diseases into our country,” Senator McKenzie said.

“Our farmers and our industry shouldn’t be sacrificed because the PM can’t get his act together on this relationship.”

Record breaking exports

Despite the recent tariff war, Australian beef has had back-to-back record-breaking export years, with last year worth $14 billion.

The Albanese maintains it was a Departmental decision based on scientific advice following a review of the restrictions initiated more than 18 months ago, prior to Mr Trump’s re-election as President for a second term.

The US buys in fresh beef from central and South America, where outbreaks of these diseases have been reported.

Mr Albanese had previously warned we won’t back down on biosecurity protections.

“The beef issue was about mad cow disease and about also the fact that beef to Australia couldn’t be guaranteed – whether it had also come from Canada or Mexico as well,” he said at a media conference.

Howard Lutnick has been critical of Australia.

Mr Lutnick, who is the US Commerce Secretary had rubbished Anthony Albanese’s claims that the laws are to protect Australia from diseases insisting it is simply a protectionist tactic to block American imports.

“Our farmers are blocked from selling almost anywhere. Europe won’t let us sell beef, Australia won’t let us sell beef,” Mr Lutnick said.

The interviewer interjected to say this was “because of hormonal chemicals”.

Lutnick replied: “No, no, that’s not why. It’s because they just wanna protect, they want to say: oh, what, the seeds are different? Other people in the world are using seeds? Come on, this is nonsense. This is all nonsense. What happens is they block our markets.”

“When we open those markets ...the price of groceries will come down. Let Donald Trump run the global economy. He knows what he’s doing. Let him fix it. Let Donald Trump fix the US economy.”

The ban on US beef has been lifted. Picture: JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

As Australia fights to secure a better deal Mr Lutnick had also warned the US President “won’t back off.”

“I don’t think there’s any chance the President is going to back off the tariffs. This is the reordering of global trade,’’ Mr Lutnick told CNN on Friday AEDT.

“The president is not going to back off. But countries can fix their tariffs, their non-tariff trade barriers, which are much, much rougher. They are the monster that needs to be slayed.

“Then, and only then, will Donald Trump make a deal with each country – when they’ve really, really changed their ways.”

“Negotiate is talking. No talking. Too late. These countries have abused us and exploited us, as he said yesterday. They need to change their ways, let’s see them change their ways. It’s going to be a long time, let’s see what they do. Not talking. Talking is nonsense.”

Mr Lutnick previously come out swinging against Australia as he strongly defended the 25 per cent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on steel and aluminium

“Look, you’ve got dumpers in the rest of the world. Japan dumps steel. China dumps steel. What that means is they make it, they over produce and they sell it dirt cheap to try to drive our guys out of business,” he said.

“The President is here to protect American workers. He’s here to protect American industry. We’re going to stop that nonsense and bring steel here.