PM rules out weakening biosecurity laws for tariff carve out

The US has been pushing for Australia to loosen rules on American beef imports as the Albanese government vies for an exemption from both the Trump administration’s baseline 10 percent levies on foreign goods and the 50 per cent imposts on steel and aluminium.

Donald Trump had told the Prime Minister 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 earlier this year.

Mr Albanese said on Friday his government “will not change or compromise any of the issues regarding biosecurity”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out weakening Australia’s strict biosecurity laws. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’ll never loosen any rules regarding our biosecurity,” he told the ABC.

“If things can be sorted out in a way that protects our biosecurity, of course we don’t just say no … but our first priority is biosecurity.”

He added that it was “simply not worth it”.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has cautioned the Australian government about bending to the US.

“This will decimate the agricultural sector if we blink and allow President Trump to be able to roll over us over on biosecurity,” he said.

“I think it’s important that the federal government looks Australian farmers in the eyes and says to them that they won’t be collateral in trying to cut a deal with President Trump.”

The Nationals’ concerns about loosening the beef rules relates to animals born in third countries, mostly in Mexico and Canada, and then tracing those animals across borders.

Mr LIttleproud argued that Australian farmers “can trace their beast from when they’re born right through to slaughter”, so the US “should be able to do that through their supply chains … in Mexico and Canada”.

American beef of third country origins is a key negotiating item in tariff talks with the US. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“We’re happy to compete with US farmers here so long as it doesn’t risk our biosecurity,” Mr Littleproud said.

Earlier, Health Minister Mark Butler said 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.

Health Minister Mark Butler says biosecurity officials are reviewing the US request. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“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.”

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.

US President Donald Trump included Australia in sweeping tariffs after saying a carve out was ‘under consideration’. Picture: Roberto Schmidt / AFP

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.