SYDNEY, July 27 — Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that a decision to ease rules on United States (US) beef imports was not prompted by US President Donald Trump.
Earlier this week, Trump said the US would sell "so much" beef to Australia after Canberra announced the relaxation of restrictions, potentially smoothing trade talks with Washington.
In place since 2003, the curbs were due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, which can kill cattle as well as people who eat infected beef.
When asked on Sunday if the easing had anything to do with Trump, Albanese said, "No, this has been a process that has been there for 10 years, the review process".
"This was not a political decision," he said in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp television, adding that Trump had not raised the issue with him in a phone call.
The comments follow US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins' call for easing a win for Trump. In April, Trump highlighted the beef trade disparity with Australia after Australia's beef exports to the US surged the previous year, reaching AU$4 billion (RM11.08 billion) amid a slump in US beef production.
By contrast, Australia's agriculture minister said the rules were relaxed after a "rigorous science and risk-based assessment" concluded that US measures to monitor and control cattle movement were effectively managing biosecurity risks.
The Australian Financial Review first reported news of Australia's policy change. The report said Australia would use the easing of rules to argue its case for the US to wind back 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium and Trump's threat to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals.
The National Party, part of Australia's conservative opposition coalition, has stated that "biosecurity should not be a political issue" and has called for an independent scientific panel to review the decision.
A loosening of beef import rules is not expected to significantly boost US shipments, as Australia is a major beef producer and exporter with significantly lower prices, according to analysts.
Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tons of beef worth US$2.9 billion (RM12.24 billion) to the US, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way.
— Reuters
