Australia to accept imports of U.S. beef
On July 23, it was announced that fresh and frozen United States beef will now have a place at Australian dinner tables. After extensive trade negotiations between the U.S. and Australia, the two countries have found common ground and Australia has agreed to lift its import restrictions on cattle that were born in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
This development comes after 20 years of the U.S.’s lack of access to beef export markets in Australia. The Australian government banned beef imports from the U.S. in 2003 after bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, was reported in Washington state.
According to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement was put into effect in 2005 and was supposed to reopen markets for U.S. beef to be exported to Australia. However, the country has not accepted any U.S. beef in the 20 years since the agreement was made. According to NCBA, during the same time period, Australia exported $28,759,340,461 of their beef to America.
Some speculate Australia’s decision to reverse import restrictions on the U.S. could be related to trade agreement tensions between the two countries, but Australia has given a different explanation. Government officials have stated the reason for the shift is related to a decades-ling biosecurity review and improved safety standards within the U.S., rather than friction over tariffs.
“The (Australian) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the U.S. effectively manage biosecurity risks,” said Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.
Industry reactions
Many in the beef industry have applauded this milestone trade improvement touted by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“The lack of two-way, science-based trade has been a sticking point for many years, and we are pleased that President Trump has successfully opened the Australian market to American beef,” said NCBA president and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “NCBA has spent decades working to correct this trade imbalance and we are proud to have a president who is willing to fight for American farmers and ranchers, expand export markets, and fix unfair trade agreements across the world.”
NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus agreed, touting the traceability and safety guidelines that have been in place for years in the U.S.
“The United States is the gold standard for safe and delicious beef, and we have some of the highest animal health and food safety standards in the world,” Bacus said. “Opening the Australian market to American beef will benefit our producers at home, while also offering Australian consumers the opportunity to enjoy our high-quality beef. We greatly appreciate President Trump delivering another win for America’s family farmers and ranchers.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins released a statement with her approval of this new trade avenue and the opportunities it could bring.
“American farmers and ranchers produce the safest, healthiest beef in the world,” Rollins said. “It’s absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years. Gone are the days of putting American farmers on the sidelines. 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.”
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
