Sydney, June 7: Australia will not compromise its stringent biosecurity standards in ongoing trade discussions with the United States, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, as speculation mounts over a potential meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the upcoming G7 summit.
Speaking to ABC Radio, Albanese dismissed the possibility of relaxing long-standing restrictions on U.S. beef imports, imposed since 2003 following the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.
“We will not change or compromise any of the issues regarding biosecurity – full stop, exclamation mark. It’s simply not worth it,” the prime minister said.
Albanese’s remarks come in response to heightened tensions following Trump’s announcement in April of a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, in which he singled out Australian beef. The move has sparked concern in Canberra, despite Australia being one of the few countries with which the U.S. typically runs a trade surplus.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday suggested that Australian authorities were reviewing whether to allow the import of beef from cattle raised in Mexico and Canada but processed in the U.S., in line with demands from the Trump administration. However, Albanese firmly denied any such concessions were under consideration.
The trade spat unfolds against a backdrop of contrasting cattle supply dynamics. Years of drought have reduced U.S. cattle herds to their lowest levels since the 1950s, while Australia, benefitting from wet weather, is flush with supply. Australian producers offer leaner cuts at lower prices, making them attractive to U.S. buyers despite existing restrictions.
Australia exported A$4 billion ($2.7 billion) in beef to the United States last year, maintaining its status as the country’s largest beef export market. Albanese said he looked forward to a face-to-face meeting with Trump but offered no timeline. “We’ve had three conversations that have been constructive, polite and respectful. That’s the way I deal with people,” he said.
The prime minister added that the U.S. tariffs were not uniquely targeting Australia. “It’s not like Australia has been singled out for any particularly egregious treatment. It’s across the board,” he noted. Australia recorded a rare trade surplus with the U.S. in January, driven by a surge in gold exports amid global economic uncertainty.
