“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.”

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says Australia would “never compromise” on biosecurity. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

The US has been able to send beef to Australia since 2019, but any beef raised in Canada or Mexico before being slaughtered and processed in the US was previously barred due to biosecurity concerns.

The change is widely viewed as a bargaining chip Australia could use while attempting to push for tariff exemptions from the US.

‘Nothing suspicious’ about beef ban lift

“If we want to export our beef overseas, then we have to accept that other countries will want to import their beef into Australia,” he told Sky News.

“So if the government has found some way of dealing with that issue, protecting our domestic agricultural industry from the introduction of foreign diseases and pests, then they should say so.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud has demanded further information about the decision, accusing the government of using the beef industry to play “catch up” in negotiations with US President Donald Trump. Source: AAP

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said it was something Australia would “never compromise” on.

“The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks.”

Australian producers may feel ‘blindsided’, but industry figures not rattled

“They’ve made this assessment themselves. They’ve said: ‘look, we’ve looked at this. We’ve looked at the best science. This is a decision we feel comfortable with’,” he said.