Tariffs on Aussie beef would drive up price of McDonald’s in USA

March 16, 2025 journo

The looming threat of US tariffs on Australian beef could drive up the price of McDonald’s in America, Trade Minister Don Farrell has warned.

Australian farmers are facing an anxious wait over whether the Trump administration will target meat exports in a fresh round of stiff tariffs – and any decision to impose tariffs on Aussie beef could result in higher prices for a McDonald’s meal in the USA.

The trade minister said a beef tariff on Australian imports into the US would “significantly” hurt farmers here and negatively impact American fast food customers.

Australian beef is cheaper on Japanese shelves than on our own major supermarkets, a farmer has found. — Australian farmers are awaiting the news of US tariffs on beef. (Nine)

“The significance, of course, to the US about our beef exports is that most of it goes into McDonald’s hamburgers,” Farrell said today.

“If you push up the price of those beef exports by 25 per cent or 10 per cent or whatever the figure is, then you push up the price of hamburgers.”

“It doesn’t make any sense,” he added.

Under the current rules, Australian exporters can export 448,214 tonnes of beef to the US at a zero tariff rate.

In 2024, Australian beef exports to the US surged to 353,000 tonnes by the end of November.

McDonald's — Don Farrell warned any tarriffs on Australian beef imported into the US could drive up American McDonald’s prices. (Getty)

Trump last week ruled out a tariff exemption for Australian steel and aluminium.

Major trade partners in the EU said it would raise retaliatory tariffs on American beef, poultry, bourbon, motorbikes, peanut butter and jeans.

“Bad news from America, but we have a whole lot of other countries around the world where we want to sell our wonderful food and wine,” Farrell said.

“And we’ll continue to do that.

“We are going to expand our trade relationship, not contract it.”