July 25, 2026
The news this week that the Federal Government has lifted trade restrictions on US beef has been met with a mixed reaction.
A blanket ban on all US beef imports – which was imposed after a case of “mad cow disease” was identified in the US in 2003 – was actually removed in 2019 however restrictions remained on US exports that could contain beef sourced from cattle from Canada or Mexico.
Issues over the “traceability” of the meat were key to the ban.
This week’s removal of the last restrictions followed what the Federal Government called “a decade-long biosecurity review”.
“The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks,” Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.
“The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity. The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade.”
National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said the report was “the result of a long-standing, science-based review by the Australian Government”.
“The NFF’s been clear that the revised request from the US needed to undergo the standard, science-based assessment to protect our biosecurity, and should be dealt with separate from any tariff negotiations,” Mr Jochinke said.
“The Australian Government has assured industry that they have undertaken the standard, science-based review process to protect Australia’s biosecurity.
“Australia’s relationship with the US is deep and multi-faceted, underpinned by the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement. Free and fair trade relies on the reciprocal recognition of trusted standards and processes between trading partners.”
Nationals Leader and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud told ABC RN he “wanted to see the science” and the protocols surrounding imports.
He was suspicious of the speed at which the decision had been made and called for an independent panel to “review the science”.
“This is about BSE (mad cow disease) potentially coming into this country and having a human impact,” he said.
Mr Littleproud said it looked like the restrictions “had been traded away to appease (US president) Donald Trump”.
AgForce General president Shane McCarthy also called for an independent review “to reassess the decision”.
“An independent panel of scientists must review this decision to make sure all protocols were followed,” Mr McCarthy said.
“If the process was vigorous and robust this should not be a problem.
“Queensland has the largest cattle herd and therefore we have the most to lose if something goes pear-shaped.”
Red Meat Advisory Council chair John McKillop told the ABC the changes had been “in the pipeline for many years”.
He said there was a limited amount of beef the US could export as their herd size had been depleted due to drought and was the “lowest in 70 years”.
Mr McKillop said the largest amount the US had ever exported to Australia was 210 tonnes (before 2003), compared with the 395,000 tonnes of Australian beef that they had imported last year.
President Trump, however, forecast a bonanza for US ranchers on his Truth Social feed on Friday:
After many years Australia has agreed to accept American Beef! For a long time, and even though we are great friends, they actually banned our Beef. Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World. The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE. All of our Nation’s Ranchers, who are some of the hardest working and most wonderful people, are smiling today, which means I am smiling too. Let’s keep the Hot Streak going. IT’S THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA!
