Australia Ends US Beef Ban After Two Decades

Australia has lifted its long-standing ban on U.S. beef imports, a move praised by the Trump administration as a major victory over what it termed “non-scientific trade barriers” that had prevented American beef from entering the Australian market for two decades. The decision, announced by Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, was said to be based on a rigorous science and risk-based assessment, with Australia expressing confidence in U.S. biosecurity measures despite some domestic opposition suggesting the ban was lifted to appease President Trump. President Trump had previously threatened tariffs on Australian exports, pushing for full access to the Australian beef market. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins hailed the development as a breakthrough that would help American farmers and ranchers expand their market reach, aligning with Trump’s America-first trade agenda. The move reverses previous Australian restrictions linked to mad cow disease concerns and traceability issues involving cattle imported from Canada and Mexico. While some Australian officials defended the timing and scientific basis of the decision, critics remain wary of potential trade-offs in the ongoing negotiations.