Australia has announced it will lift restrictions on beef imports from the United States.
All beef imports were initially banned in 2003 after the fatal neurological disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, was found in American cattle.
After this, the blanket ban was lifted in 2019; however, restrictions remained for cattle from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the U.S.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, said the decision was made after a ten-year “rigorous assessment”.
“We are assured that the supply chain and the traceability and the safety of any food coming into Australia is safe,” she said.
“We're exporting over $4 billion worth of beef to the United States presently.
“And our farmers are a net bid beneficiary of our two-way trading system.”
The trade restriction has been a major grievance for the Trump Administration with Nationals leader David Littleproud questioning the timing of the decision after the U.S. placed a 10% tariff on all Australian imports earlier this year.
However, Red Meat Advisory Council chair John McKillop said while pressure from the U.S. may have made the decision go through quicker, he believes it is the result of long-running assessment.
"Probably the timing isn't a great look, but these changes have been in the pipeline for many years," he told ABC.
U.S. President Donald Trump had grievances with the beef trade restrictions, as Australia is one of the main suppliers of red meat to the U.S. but consumes little U.S. beef.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social to celebrate the announcement.
“After many years, Australia has agreed to accept American beef!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.
“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.”
The changes come as Labour pushes for relief from the White House regarding new tariffs on pharmaceuticals and steel and aluminium.
Australia is currently facing 10% tariffs across the board, 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals.
While the restrictions on beef have been lifted, Meat & Livestock Australia a producer-owned company that supports the local beef industry, said the changes would have a minimal effect on the market.
“The potential for US beef to be imported into Australia in large volumes is minimal, given the high demand for beef in the US, the low US cattle herd, the strength of the Australian dollar, our competitive domestic supply, and most importantly Australians’ strong preference for high-quality, tasty and nutritious Australian beef,” the company said.
“In fact, demand for Australian beef in the US continues to grow. In June 2025, exports to the US rose 24% year-on-year, despite a 10% tariff introduced in April.”
