‘We are going to sell so much’

They squashed their beef.

President Trump celebrated the Australian government’s decision Thursday to open its market to US beef, arguing the shift in policy will be a boon to American cattle ranchers.

“After many years Australia has agreed to accept American Beef!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

“For a long time, and even though we are great friends, they actually banned our Beef,” the president continued. “Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World.” 

“The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE.” 

Australia ended its ban on fresh and frozen US beef imports after a thorough review of US supply chains demonstrated no biosecurity risks to consumers Down Under, hoping to buy American steaks. 

“My department officials have been across in the US. They’ve gone along the entire supply chain, including in abattoirs and cutting houses in the US, to ensure the safety and security of any beef along the supply chain that may come into Australia, and my experts are assured and are confident that we have this assessment correct,” Australia’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins told reporters.

“This decision has been purely based on science and a rigorous assessment by my department,” Collins said, when asked if the easing of restrictions came in response to Trump’s tariff threats. 

The president announced a 10% tariff on Australian goods earlier this year and bemoaned the country’s beef import restrictions in the process. 

“[W]e imported $3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. They won’t take any of our beef,” Trump said in remarks from the White House in April. “They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and, you know, I don’t blame them, but we’re doing the same thing right now.” 

Australia banned the import of fresh American beef products in 2003 due to concerns over mad cow disease. Since 2019, Australia has allowed the import of cattle raised in the US. 

“All of our Nation’s Ranchers, who are some of the hardest working and most wonderful people, are smiling today, which means I am smiling too,” Trump’s post continued. “Let’s keep the Hot Streak going. IT’S THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA!” 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins blamed “non-scientific trade barriers” for the import ban. 

“Gone are the days of putting American farmers on the sidelines,” Rollins said in a statement. “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.”

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer similarly argued that “for decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef, effectively barring US market access.”

“Yesterday’s decision by Australia marks a major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers,” Greer said in a statement. “President Trump is taking decisive action to confront unfair trading practices, and Australia’s decision to unlock market access for US beef is a direct result of his leadership.”