Australia has decided to lift its restrictions on certain types of beef from the United States, following a recent scientific review.
The move comes after criticism from former US President Donald Trump and trade tensions between the two countries.
The Australian government will now allow imports of beef from cattle raised in Canada and Mexico but processed in the United States.
These products were previously banned under strict biosecurity rules. The original restrictions were introduced to prevent the spread of diseases like mad cow.
A previous ban on beef from cattle raised and slaughtered in the US was removed in 2019.
The current decision came after a risk-based assessment confirmed that disease risks were under control.
The move follows Trump’s remarks earlier this year when he criticized Australia for blocking US beef. In response, he announced new tariffs on several countries, including Australia.
Since April, Australia has faced a 10 percent tariff on exports to the US.
Despite the trade friction, exports have continued. In just the first three weeks of July, Australia shipped around 26,000 tonnes of beef and veal to the US.
While Australia is a major exporter of red meat to the US, it consumes very little US beef, largely due to strong local supply and consumer preference.
Industry experts say the policy change is unlikely to lead to a surge in US beef imports.
Factors such as high domestic demand in the US, a smaller cattle population, a strong Australian dollar, and loyalty to local products are expected to limit any increase in American beef on Australian shelves.