Australian farmers clap back at Donald Trump’s | Australian Markets

Australian cattle farmers have hit back at Donald Trump’s claims American beef will “flood” the market down underneath, however say they’re involved about biosecurity dangers and failure to seek the advice of industry earlier than agreeing to take more US imports.

The crimson meat sector was blindsided final week when the Albanese Government confirmed it had relaxed restrictions on US beef imports — a transfer welcomed by the US President on social media, the place he declared American producers would promote “so much to Australia” and described their product as “the safest and best in the entire world.”

More than 99 per cent of beef offered in Australian pubs, supermarkets and eating places is Australian beef, and industry believes the change may have little important materials impression on what Aussie customers can buy on the shelf.

The US president took to social media final week to welcome the controversial transfer, saying his farmers deliberate to promote “so much to Australia”, which was the “safest and best in the entire world”.

But farmers and different industry stakeholders Countryman spoke to mentioned the US — Australia’s largest beef purchaser — would battle to compete with the sturdy home cattle industry.

They mentioned any US beef imports would doubtless be utilized in eating places, fast food or pre-packaged meals, reasonably than on grocery store cabinets.

Rabobank RaboResearch Australia and New Zealand basic supervisor Stefan Vogel mentioned high costs and tight provide within the US would make it tough for the industry to ship a important quantity of beef to Australia in at least the subsequent 5 years.

The US’ cattle herd is in a restocking section after a number of years of drought.

While the quantity of beef coming into Australia from the US was unlikely to be important, Mr Vogel mentioned there might be a market for it.

“We may see some very specific product coming into the market, like a Texas steakhouse, bringing in US beef, rather than mass product,” he mentioned.

“For now, we don’t think this will be a gamechanger.”

Australia shipped almost 400,000 tonnes of beef price $2.9 billion to the United States final 12 months, with simply 269 tonnes of US product shifting the opposite approach.

Australia is the world’s second-biggest beef exporter, behind Brazil, whereas the US is the second-biggest importer of beef, behind China.

Western Beef Association chair Mark Thomas mentioned there was a motive Australia was exporting document volumes of beef into America.

“They can’t supply their own market, let alone supply ours,” he mentioned.

“This (the imports) is actually a positive thing for Australian beef because removing the inability for America to export into Australia… removes an excuse that America has to not allow Australian beef.”

Australian Pork Limited boss Margotr Andrae mentioned Australia “must not allow trade pressure to override the science, animal welfare standards and food security”.

It was a view echoed by National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke, who mentioned “tariff negotiations” must be faraway from any dialog on biosecurity.

“(It) should be dealt with separate from any tariff negotiations,” he mentioned.

The cattle industry has additionally lashed out after receiving no session during the ultimate levels of the review.

Cattle Australia chief government Will Evans mentioned the organisation had not seen any element of the science-based evaluation previous to the announcement and was now reviewing the DAFF paper.

The group can also be involved that the foundations utilized to Australian beef exports into the US is not going to be reciprocated for incoming US product. It plans to call for an unbiased scientific panel to review how the choice was made.

“We believe an independent scientific assessment is a sensible and prudent way forward. This must occur before imports commence,” Mr Evans mentioned.

“There is simply too much at stake when it comes to Australia’s world-leading biosecurity status not to get a second opinion.

“Given the Minister’s confidence she should have no issue appointing an independent panel to take the highest level of precaution in protecting the Australian beef industry.”

The lack of session has sparked criticism that the choice was rushed to appease Mr Trump as he thought of slapping more than the present 10 per cent tariff on all Australian imports introduced in April.

The US is Australia’s largest beef buyer, importing 400,000 tonnes price $US4.2 billion ($6.3b) final 12 months.

A chronic drought has shrunk the US herd to its lowest degree in 75 years, sending home beef costs to document highs.

Despite the longstanding ban on transhipped beef, US born and raised beef has continued to enter Australia, with imports reaching 270 tonnes in 2024-5, the best for the reason that mid Nineties, in response to Episode3’s Matt Dalgleish.

He mentioned the sheer scale of Australia’s 1.4 million tonne annual beef exports made biosecurity paramount.

WA Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook additionally raised considerations concerning the traceability of beef imported from the US, saying Foot and Mouth Disease would “ruin our industry overnight”.

“How the hell would we know where it came from? You’ve only got to take it out of one box and put it in another, and you’ll never know where it came from,” he mentioned.

Mr Seabrook labelled the timing “coincidental” amid tariff talks and accused the Government of making the choice “without due consultation” with industry.

Australia banned beef imports from the US in 2003 after the, mad cow illness, or deadly neurological illness bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was found in American cattle.

The blanket ban was lifted in 2019, however restrictions remained on beef was sourced from Canada or Mexico and slaughtered within the US.

But Red Meat Advisory Council chair John McKillop mentioned industry felt “relaxed” concerning the resolution “as long as the science is there”.

“You always get a bit suspicious when you think that things have been pushed through, and maybe they have… or at least expedited because of the pressure from the US.

“But as long as the science is there… then as an industry, we’re relaxed about it.”

Mr McKillop mentioned a declare by the Minister on Thursday that the US and Australian provide chains have been “equivalent” wasn’t correct as a result of America doesn’t have lifelong traceability of stock.

“It’s not quite correct. They don’t have the same systems as us. We have full lifetime traceability in Australia and have had for 20 years through the Livestock Identification scheme.

“The US has failed to implement such a system.”

The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association Christian Mulders mentioned Australia had “rightly undertaken” an evaluation after America’s 2020 request and was happy with the federal government’s assurance on US controls.

Mr Mulders mentioned that “so long as it meets our import requirements” he wasn’t against imports, including that the affiliation was a free trade advocate.

Myalup beef producer and WAFarmers livestock president Geoff Pearson additionally he would “like to see the detail in the science” and questioned the politics behind the transfer.

“You could call it a political pathway to negotiation into the tariff and the first introduction Albanese has got with Trump,” he mentioned.