American beef key issue in Trump tariff talks
Australia has been vying for an exemption from both the Trump administration's baseline 10 per cent levies on foreign goods and the 50 per cent imposts on steel and aluminium.
Donald Trump had told Anthony Albanese that an Australian carve out was 'under consideration' but ultimately decided there would be 'no exemptions' as he set about prosecuting his 'America first' agenda.
Health Minister Mark Butler said on Friday that Australian officials were working through a request to accept beef from cattle slaughtered in the US that originated in third countries.
'We will be making a decision in the national interest,' Mr Butler told Seven's Sunrise.
'That's what we've done in relation to pharmaceuticals – we've said there's no way our PBS will be on the negotiating table and we won't compromise our biosecurity laws either.'
He said the government had been 'reviewing this issue for some time'.
'This is US beef that's raised in Canada or Mexico, not cattle raised in the US itself but then brought into America, slaughtered there and proposed for exports,' Mr Butler said.
'This will be a decision taken on its merits, not for convenience, not to get a deal.'
Noting Australia's 'very strict biosecurity laws', he said the officials had been reviewing the safety of American beef with third country origins even before the request was made.
Appearing opposite Mr Butler, opposition senator Jane Hume said the Coalition supported the caution.
'We certainly don't want to see a watering down of our biosecurity laws that would potentially put our beef industry in danger,' Senator Hume said.
'This isn't about protecting an industry's prosperity, it's about protecting an industry's integrity.
'If you are tweaking biosecurity laws by watering them down that's something I think we would be very concerned about.'
The Prime Minister has also ruled out watering down biosecurity laws to get a deal.
'No, we will not change or compromise any of the issues regarding biosecurity, full stop, exclamation mark,' Mr Albanese told the ABC.
'It's simply not worth it, so it's that simple.'
Only the UK has been able to secure a partial exemption from the US President's blanket tariffs.
A key UK concession was scrapping its 20 per cent duties on American beef and raising the import quota to 13,000 metric tonnes.
But with many British goods still subject to tariffs, analysts have questioned whether the deal was worth it.
The US has trade surpluses with both the UK and Australia.
Australia also has a free-trade agreement with the US, meaning goods should be traded mostly uninhibited.
The Albanese government has repeatedly criticised Mr Trump's decision to slap tariffs on Australian products as 'economic self-harm' and 'not the act of a friend'.
Trade Minister Don Farrell is in Europe this week for high-level negotiations on a free-trade deal with the EU.
He also met with his US counterpart and pressed for an Australian exemption from the 'unjustified' tariffs.
'Australia's position has been consistent and clear,' Senator Farrell said in a statement.
'These tariffs are unjustified and not the act of a friend.
'They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade.
'We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs.'
Mr Albanese has vowed to raise tariffs with Mr Trump when the two leaders meet at the G7 in Canada later this month.
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