Australian cattle producers reassured beef exports will remain strong despite US tariff changes

Australian cattle producers have been told beef exports will continue as normal despite Donald Trump removing the 40 per cent US tariff on Brazilian imports.

Australian cattle producers have been reassured it will be business as usual for beef exports despite the latest tariff changes by the US.

US President Donald Trump last week announced he would remove the 40 per cent tariff on beef imports from Brazil, bringing them into line with other countries such as Australia.

In a statement by the White House, tariff modifications under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States meant Brazilian beef imports, including that in warehouses, would not be subject to the 40 per cent tariff from November 13.

“To the extent that implementation of this order requires a refund of duties collected, refunds shall be processed,” the statement said.

Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter, with 28 per cent of the global market. In 2025, Brazil is expected to slaughter 47 million cattle and up until the end of June had processed 20.4 million cattle.

A herdsman drives cattle on a farm in Sao Felix do Xingu, Para state, Brazil, the largest beef exporter in the world.

Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Tim Ryan said Australia was still well placed in global beef exports.

“The removal of US tariffs on Brazil announced late last week effectively resets the tariff landscape to where it stood at the start of the year,” Mr Ryan said.

“While this will increase competitiveness in the imported beef market, Australia continues to stand apart with its long-established, world-leading food safety and integrity systems.

“The domestic supply is tight and US consumers enjoy high quality Australian meat, so demand for Australian product will stay strong despite the tariff changes.”

Even with the removal of the 40 per cent tariff, Brazilian beef will still incur a tariff rate of 26.4 per cent for out of quota beef.

It’s unclear whether the lifting of the 40 per cent tariff will impact Australian beef exports.

US analyst Len Steiner said it would be a “stretch” to think the removal of the reciprocal tariffs result in a deluge of imported beef.

“We do believe that lower taxes (tariffs) generally mean more supply available,” Mr Steiner said.

“It is useful to recognize the relative supply available for export in the various supplying countries, how much of exports in those countries already is coming to the US and the

share of production that those countries are already exporting”.