‘No plans': Aussie giants reject US beef
In a contentious move, the federal government has allowed Canadian and Mexican cattle killed in the US to be imported into Australia. Following the change to this 20-year policy, the Trump administration slapped Australia with the lowest of its universal tariff rates, applying a 10 per cent levy on Australian exports.
Despite the North American beef now allowed to land in Australia, consumers are unlikely to see much US beef on supermarket shelves or in fast-food restaurants.
Aldi, Coles, McDonald's and Woolworths all say Australian customers will be eating homegrown beef.
'We apply an Australia-first approach, and 100 per cent of our fresh red meat is sourced directly from Australian farmers, with whom we have longstanding relationships,' a Woolworths spokesperson told NewsWire.
'We have no plans to change that approach.'
Spokespeople for Aldi and Coles say there are no plans to change from 100 per cent Australian beef.
Some 80 million kilos of beef are dished out by the Golden Arches each year, and McDonald's too says it will not be buying from North America. A government decision has ended an effective 20-year ban on US beef coming into Australia. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
'We'll continue to source 100 per cent Aussie beef for our menu and provide our customers with the great taste, quality, and value they know and love.'
Last month, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed Australia would remove the ban on American beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico after a decade-long review.
The US has similar, granular farm animal tracing as in Australia that largely stamps out diseases spreading from beast to beast. Regulations are more lax in Canada and Mexico.
The federal opposition criticised the move, suggesting Australia had bargained away its biosecurity to get a better negotiating position with the Trump administration over the President's sweeping global tariffs. The government rejected this claim. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has spent the first few weeks of the new parliament defending the department staff and biosecurity experts who have signed off on the new import regimen. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
The Nationals also called for an independent review of the US beef import rules.
US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Australia changing its rules was a nod to President Trump's acumen.
'This is yet another example of the kind of market access the President negotiates to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, with American agriculture leading the way,' Ms Rollins said last month.
'It's absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years.'
In the wake of President Trump's economy-rattling 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements earlier this year, countries have been scrambling to carve out exemptions or deals with the US.
Australia and the US have a free trade agreement, and in 2024, the US exported twice as much to Australia as it imported from Down Under – $50.6bn versus $23.8bn.
Despite the trade agreement and Australia being in a trade deficit, the US administration put its global baseline 10 per cent excise on Australian products.
Australia was one of the few countries to escape with just a 10 per cent levy when the extended negotiation deadline came and went on Friday, August 1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
9 minutes ago
- West Australian
States boycotting Israel to go without US federal funds
US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice.
Perth Now
9 minutes ago
- Perth Now
States boycotting Israel to go without US federal funds
US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice.
The Advertiser
9 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
States boycotting Israel to go without US federal funds
US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice. US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice. US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice. US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies will be denied federal aid for natural disaster preparedness, the Trump administration has announced, tying routine federal funding to its political stance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in grant notices posted on Friday that states must follow its "terms and conditions." Those conditions require they certify they will not sever "commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" to qualify for funding. The requirement applies to at least $US1.9 billion ($A2.9 billion) that states rely on to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. The requirement is the Trump administration's latest effort to use federal funding to promote its views on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees FEMA, in April said that boycotting Israel is prohibited for states and cities receiving its grant funds. FEMA separately said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at BDS, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. "DHS will enforce all antidiscrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism," a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. FEMA's Israel requirement is "shameful," said Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS Movement in a statement on Monday. The American Jewish Committee supports the Trump administration's policy, said Holly Huffnagle, the group's director of antisemitism policy. The AJC is an advocacy group that supports Israel. Under one of the grant notices posted on Friday, FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $US553.5 million ($A856.4 million) set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas. New York is due to receive $US92.2 million ($A142.6 million) from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of "relative risk of terrorism", according to the notice.
