AS the United States cattle industry yesterday celebrated a win with expanded market access into Australia, the Australian cattle industry has been left feeling kept in the dark by its own Government and is now calling for a review of the process that led to the loosening of restrictions on US beef imports.
The Federal Government yesterday whipped up a media storm with the news that it will allow fresh and chilled beef imports from the United States, even if it originated in Mexico and Canada, provided traceability can be shown.
Industry groups started fielding calls from about 5:30am yesterday as the news was making its way through the Australian media.
While the industry was making comments that were largely agnostic about the process, they were also only just getting their first look at the report.
With barely enough time to review the report and make comments, some farming groups believed they could smell a rat when key questions were not being answered by Government. Cattle Australia, AgForce and New South Wales Farmers decided they could no longer support the process and started calling on the Government to hold an independent review.
The idea was put forward by Nationals leader David Littleproud who said a previous Coalition Government had held an independent review of the scientific review when discussing prawn imports.
US industry claims a win
While discussions about US beef imports into Australia have been ongoing for the past decade, the pressure has been ramped this year since US president Donald Trump was inaugurated.
Following calls for industries to highlight “unfair” trade practices, the US beef industry’s peak body the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association took aim at Australia.
“If the Australians will not accept our beef products, then it is only fair that we reciprocate,” said a published letter signed by NCBA government affairs director Kent Bacus.
President Trump obliged the NCBA and used its beef access to Australia as a reason to impose a 10pc tariff on Australian imports. “Australians are wonderful people and they wonderful everything, but they ban American beef yet we imported $3b of Australian beef last year.”
The Australian industry quickly responded the US, by highlighting that the US has had access to Australia since 2019. Industry groups said the US could not provide adequate country-of-origin labelling which is standard Australia is held to.
The NCBA and President Trump have now both claimed a win and have taken to social media to celebrate.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 24, 2025
20 years after the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, U.S. beef imports finally will be allowed into Australia thanks to @POTUS delivering yet another victory for America’s cattle producers! NCBA is proud to work with the President to expand markets and fix unfair trade deals! https://t.co/v9rEUwDD8x
— National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (@BeefUSA) July 24, 2025
Was beef a ‘bargaining chip’ for other Australia products?
While the President Trump claims that America is “going to sell so much beef”, the reality is that the Australian market is more likely to be symbolic one for American exporters – as discussed on yesterday’s ‘The Week in Beef’ podcast.
Nationals leader David Littleproud has said the decision is more political, accusing the Government of expediting the process to secure meetings with the President, who is proposing a 100pc tariff on Australian pharmaceutical exports, a 50pc tariff on steel exports and has a 10pc tariff on all other exports.
Agriculture minister Julie Collins was asked yesterday whether this decision was ‘a bargaining chip’ for discussion the President Trump.
“This has been the culmination of what has been a ten-year process. The US has been able to bring beef into Australia since 2019,” Ms Collins said.
“In 2020, they asked for the expanded access. This process now is at conclusion and has taken around five years to conclude. We’ll go on over here and then we’ll come to here.”
Where to now for the industry?
The Australian industry’s main concerns are about the specific protocols that US exporters will need to adhere to get beef into Australia.
There are concerns that some of the protocols Australian exporters need to adhere, such as regular audits from the US department of agriculture, will not be applied to US exports.
AgForce president Shane McCarthy said it was important to get the biosecurity protocols right.
“Queensland has the largest cattle herd and therefore we have the most to lose if something goes pear shaped,” Mr McCarthy said.
“From our point of view there will be no backing down on biosecurity controls.”
Mr McCarthy called for the highest level of caution to be exercised to protect the cattle industry which is so valuable to Australia.
“We take our biosecurity protocols and reputation very seriously, and the amount of money that agriculture is worth to the Australian economy, so should the federal government,” he said.
“While the US is a close ally – we need to maintain our biosecurity and sovereignty.”
- The Government says it will be releasing more information on the protocols on Monday
when your enemies enemy is you friend, and to keep you friends close but your foes closer, where to you place America now. they are like an atheist in a church, hands clasped in preyer until in the donation bowl.
I will support the Australian farmers and buy Australian beef.
I hope it appropriately labelled as being USA import so we don't purchase. ..our Government I believe is bowing to a mad man at this stage by blackmail. it must be appropriately labelled to give us choice
it doesn't say we have to import any it just says that they can export but we have to import before they can export am I correct?
<strong>Any trade would require an Australian importer and a US exporter doing business, before the meat was put on the water, Frank. Editor</strong>
I will continue to buy only Australian grown beef, mostly grass fed. and no GH or antibiotics.
Another week kneed capilition by the Australian Govt to the most corrupt American president in American history
Reality says it is not a big win for American beef producers. It is hard to imagine big tonnages of US beef coming to Australia simply because the price of cattle in the US is almost double that which Australian cattlemen receive
Of course it was a bargaining chip for other Australian products.
The big losers are Australian beef producers mainly because of increased risk of FMD and Mad Cow Disease.
While an independent review is a responsible response from our industry representatives, what will be achieved if the review finds the risk to Australia is too great?
The federal government is unlikely to reverse their decision.
While the Federal Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have provided assurance that cattle born and raised in either Mexico or Canada before slaughter in the US will comply with Australia’s standards for biosecurity and food safety, the highest level of caution must be exercised to protect Australia’s beef industry.
So, if this goes ahead and that is almost certain, how can industry add safeguards to our $80B industry?
Will cattle from countries south of Mexico be included?
Will USA product be imported with ‘country of origin’ signage at point of sale?
Will product be imported boneless?
Will offal be imported?
Will product be spinal chord free?
Eg. T Bone, whole neck.
My bet, none of these concerns will be considered by a Labor government.