US beef selling in Australia? Yeah, nah

Late-February’s launch of US beef into Australia immediately after President Trump announced 15% tariffs seemed tricky timing. 

The US Embassy just kept smiling when it offered industry influencers a slap-up feed in the Sydney consulate to launch US beef imports into Australia.

US beef has been banned into Australia for 22 years, after BSE was detected in the US herd in 2003. The approval now includes cattle bred in Mexico or Canada as well as US-born  animals. 

MLA later announced that beef was exempt from the extra tariff, although sheep and goatmeat will be slugged with the extra charged.

Public backlash on social media did not hold back. Hormone use in US beef production was a common criticism. The comparative quality of Australian vs US product was another.

“Nope! Not even to make a Wellington,” said another – referring to Victoria’s poison mushroom murder case.  Some compared the concept to selling chocolate to the Swiss or Belgians, pasta to Italians or sand to the Sahara.

However, there were some supporters. Texan John Cook wrote: “Need to have some Texans there to smoke y’all a good brisket.”

Poster Lindsey Smith who lists her home town as Arlington, Texas, said: “Give me an American cheeseburger any day!”, only to be told by Ray Goldenburger (yep, real name) “They use Aussie beef in their burgers. That’s our biggest export of beef.”

It gets better. Someone questioned: “Is it labelled free of mad cow disease?” which drew a response: “Not free of mad president disease though.”

Another typed: “Going straight to the dog food. Poor dogs.”

Kathy Almer asked: “Where can I buy it? I want to know the places to avoid.”  Greg Patterson, noting the 75-year low-point in the US national herd asked: “American farmers cannot currently enough beef to satisfy the domestic needs, so where is this beef coming from?”

Other commentators suggested the product would be sourced from Argentina, Mexico and Canada before feedlotting in the US. Several questioned biosecurity protocols around this.

“Keep it at the embassy. Quarantined preferably,” added another commentator. 

The US Embassy praised the “range, value and quality of American beef. Through this historic trade win, we are supporting American farmers and bringing America’s bounty to the world!”

The move follows the lifting of an import ban on US beef in July last year although only 150kg were imported in Australia by October 2025. In comparison, Australia sold the US 480,000 tonnes of meat – mostly lean trim for the grinding market.

And the most common comment? “Yeah, nah.” 

Even the US Embassy-supplied photographs stirred the possums. 

“First time using a knife?” Sarah-Jane Doigt asked of a photo of Chargée d’Affaires Erika Olson and Ambassador Julie Callahan carving a rib eye.  

“Trying to carve sideways through the bone ? ... No lights upstairs,” says Ian Kerridge. 

“That awkward moment your employment and vegan lifestyle clash like an orang-utan word salad,” joked Ian Manning.

“These two ladies seem to have modelled their carving skills from the shower scene in Psycho,” said Michael Pless.

 “I’d rather eat the chopping board ,” said Cody Whybrow while John Slater commented: “Hazmat operation underway.”

But it was the rare-cooked rib eye that copped the greatest pasting.”

A good vet could start that up again; be eating grass again in no time,” said Paul Burgess.

Tasmanian Kim Jarvis said: “ I bet that walked through customs by itself, I can hear it mooing.......”

Ion Heseltine had the last word. “Only way it’s going to gallop off the shelves is if it’s dirt cheap.”