Australia is set to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports in a move welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as a significant trade breakthrough, despite concerns from critics over biosecurity risks.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins on Thursday said the decision to relax curbs originally aimed at preventing the spread of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE) would not compromise Australia’s biosecurity standards.
“Australia supports open and free trade. Our cattle industry has greatly benefited from it,” Collins said in a statement.
President Trump celebrated the development on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it “undeniable and irrefutable proof that U.S. beef is the safest and best in the world.”
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins congratulated Trump, calling it “a major trade breakthrough” that would expand market access for American beef producers. “This is further proof of the kind of economic revival the President is delivering, with U.S. agriculture leading the charge,” she said.
Australia has permitted U.S.-grown beef imports since 2019, but until now banned beef sourced from Canada and Mexico due to BSE concerns. However, new U.S. regulations now require the tracing of all cattle from those countries back to their farms of origin — a move that has satisfied Australian authorities.
Collins said the updated controls in the U.S. “effectively manage biosecurity risks.” No specific timeline has been set for the relaxed restrictions to take effect.
Trump had previously criticized Australia’s restrictions on American beef and in April announced tariffs of at least 10% on Australian imports, including 50% on steel and aluminum, saying, “They won’t take any of our beef.”
Opposition lawmaker David Littleproud voiced concerns that the decision was politically motivated. “This is not just about animal health — it’s about human welfare,” he said, calling for independent scientific review to ensure public and industry confidence.
About 70% of Australian beef is exported, and industry leaders fear that any outbreak of diseases like mad cow or foot-and-mouth could devastate global markets.
Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans, representing over 52,000 grass-fed beef producers, said he trusted the government's scientific judgment. “They’ve made this assessment based on the best available science. Given the scale of the industry, I’m sure they’ve been very careful,” he said.
In the U.S., beef prices continue to climb due to drought and a shrinking cattle herd. In June, ground beef averaged $6.12 per pound, up nearly 12% from a year earlier, while steak prices rose 8% to $11.49 per pound.
Despite the policy shift, Australian demand for U.S. beef is expected to remain limited, partly due to the weaker Australian dollar.
The easing of trade tensions is likely to feature prominently in upcoming talks between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Trump, after a planned meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada was cancelled. A new meeting is expected later this year.
The United States and Australia have had a bilateral free trade agreement for two decades, with the U.S. consistently running a trade surplus.
Source: Agency