China ordered this Aussie flower farm to grow rice. It found a way out
The Australian agribusiness had spent years cultivating the lush mountain valley into a high-tech export hub for ornamental flowers. But under Beijing's increasingly rigid food security doctrine, even picturesque petals were no match for a national obsession with self-sufficiency in grains and other staples.
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9 News
18 minutes ago
- 9 News
Australia lifts ban on US beef imports
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Australia has lifted remaining bans on beef imports from the US as the ongoing battle to secure an exemption from Donald Trump's tariff regime continues. Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth confirmed on Today that a decade-long review into the imports of US beef had been completed. "That review has been undertaken and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry believe that there are the right controls in place in the US to lift that ban," she said. Imports of beef from the US will be permitted after a government review. (Getty) "My understanding is that will be lifted as a result of a decade-long review." That source emphasised that Australia's biosecurity would remain uncompromised by the change, a stance Rishworth also took. Donald Trump announces his global tariffs in April. (Nine) "We are not we are not compromising on biosecurity. I need to make that very clear," she said. "We believe in free and fair trade. And our farmers very much benefit from being able to export their products right around the world." The revelation comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's proclaimed August 1 deadline for increased blanket tariffs on imports to the US. There are fears for Australia's biosecurity. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Australia is currently subjected to a baseline 10 per cent tariff on all US exports, including beef, with a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to increase the tariff on imported pharmaceuticals to 200 per cent. The baseline tariff could as much as double to 20 per cent on the August 1 deadline, Trump warned in recent weeks. In April, when rolling out his "Liberation Day" tariff plan, Trump singled out Australian beef. "Australia bans – and they're wonderful people, and wonderful everything – but they ban American beef," he said then. "Yet we imported $US3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. "They won't take any of our beef. "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 starting at midnight tonight, I would say." A ban on beef imports from the US was put in place more than 20 years ago after an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, which can lead to fatal brain disease in humans. The blanket ban was lifted in 2019 for cattle raised and slaughtered in the US, but remained for cattle that had been raised in Canda and Mexico, but slaughtered in and exported from the US. It's those latter bans which have now been lifted, after the review reportedly found the US had improved its tracking protocols. Trade tariffs agriculture Australia national USA World CONTACT US
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Australia lifts ban on import of US beef
The Albanese Government has lifted a ban on United States beef, in a major move to appease the Trump Administration and to try and end tariffs on Australian exports. The US has had beef access into Australia since 2019. The announcement on Thursday will allow for expanded access to include beef sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico, which is legally imported and slaughtered in America. Albanese Government sources say in late 2024 and early 2025, the US introduced more robust movement controls, which means that all cattle from Canada and Mexico can be identified and traced to the farm and through the supply chain. Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins said the government has done all the necessary checks. 'The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity,' she said. 'The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade. 'The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks. 'Australia stands for open and fair trade - our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this.' Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie says the Opposition is waiting for a briefing from the government on the details of the announcement. But the Coalition is concerned protocols may have been watered down, risking disease entering Australia. 'We know this is because of the Prime Minister's inability to repair our relationship with the United States,' McKenzie said. 'Anthony Albanese must not sacrifice our beef industry and our farmers to repair the diplomatic deficiencies of his relationship with the United States.' Aussie beef has had back-to-back record-breaking export years, with last year worth $14 billion.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Lift that ban': Albo's huge move on tariffs
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