# Beef import debate heats up - Beef Central

> Japanese beef has regained access to the Australian market for the first time in 17 years, and the United States is nearing regulatory approval to regain access after a similar gap. The article describes the domestic debate over biosecurity risk versus maintaining two-way market access. Australia relies on exports for about 70% of its beef.

- Date: 2018-12-19 · published 2018-12-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region Australia · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/61524-beef-import-debate-heats-up-beef-central
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Renewed import access adds supply competition in Australian beef and reflects a trade reopening that could affect Australian cattle prices.

## Read by commodity

- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2017-08-06 | [US beef import demand weakens](https://feedsoft.ai/events/69403-us-beef-import-demand-weakens.md) | -2.5% | -8.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-03-14 | [Relaxations over BSE, FMD create headwinds for Aussie beef exports - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71967-relaxations-over-bse-fmd-create-headwinds-for-aussie-beef-exports-beef-central.md) | +1.8% | +1.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-11-24 | [Export beef trade starts to react to Trump’s surprise Brazil tariff decision - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6072-export-beef-trade-starts-to-react-to-trump-s-surprise-brazil-tariff-decision.md) | -3.1% | +4.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-02-11 | [Imports of Cattle and Beef Hit Historical High in 2020 - R-CALF USA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48572-imports-of-cattle-and-beef-hit-historical-high-in-2020-r-calf-usa.md) | -0.3% | +1.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-03-15 | [Mexico opens market to beef imports](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71965-mexico-opens-market-to-beef-imports.md) | +2.9% | +2.6% |

## Sources

- beefcentral.com: https://www.beefcentral.com/trade/beef-import-debate-heats-up/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.