Demand from Korea Surges Despite Tariff Pressures

South Korea has quickly risen to become one of Australia’s top four global markets, driven by the establishment of the KAFTA (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement) and strong consumer demand for Australian red meat. However, 2026 has seen ongoing discussions around the quota safeguard which after being exceeded sees a tariff rate increase from 5.3% to 24%.

Travis Brown, MLA Regional Manager for Japan and Kora, shared his insights in the latest episode of the On the Ground podcast.

“Last year, we hit our quota around mid-September. This year, it looks like we'll probably hit that quota towards the end of July...

Cattle Australia: EU FTA Fails on Free Trade

Comments attributable to Cattle Australia Chair, Garry Edwards: 

“This morning’s announcement on trading terms with the European Union (EU) shows that we have been misled by an apparently disingenuous trade negotiation, with amateurs playing a game against professionals.

“The deal that has been struck is simply appalling for agriculture and regional Australia and delivers nothing to address the trade imbalance to the EU.

“The quantities agreed are pathetic with headline trivial volumes not reached for 10 years. At the same time Australia is inundated with massive volumes of tariff-free EU meat...

EU FTA a Kick in the Guts to the Meat Industry

The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) has expressed extreme disappointment with the outcome of the European Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which locks in restrictive red meat access, resulting in a permanent competitive disadvantage for Australian meat to the EU.

The volumes and conditions attached to beef, sheep and goat meat trade to the European Union under this FTA limits, rather than supports trade into this important market of 450 million consumers.

The details are particularly hard to stomach for an industry which is already under attack from global trade restrictions and facing significant increases to the taxes charged by the Australian Government on meat exporters...

A‑EU FTA Delivers Worst Ever Free Trade Agreement for Australian Red Meat Industry to Date

The Australian red meat industry says the Federal Government has badly let the sector down, signing an extremely disappointing free trade deal with the European Union that falls far short of what Australia needed and expected.

Australia’s red meat industry is devastated that the Federal Government signed an FTA that falls well short of delivering a significant increase in market access, despite repeatedly indicating it would not sign a bad deal.

While the incremental increase in quota access has been noted, the outcome is...

Australia’s Food and Wine Group Returns to South Korea

The Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group will make its first return visit later this month when it heads to South Korea for its eighth Taste the Wonders of Australia campaign.

The Collaboration Group, which includes Meat and Livestock Australia, along with Hort Innovation, Dairy Australia, Wine Australia and Seafood Industry Australia, aims to deepen commercial relationships with key partners in trade, retail and foodservice, reinforcing South Korea as a priority export destination for Australia’s premium food and beverages.

South Korea is one of Australia’s most significant trade partners, with a population of more than 50 million and dense urban centres...

A-EU FTA Negotiations Must Rectify Punitive Access

Australia’s red meat industry has issued its clearest message yet on the pending endgame of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) negotiations.

Improved market access is essential, and the FTA is the way to achieve it.

With the EU only allocating quota increases to its trading partners, rather than genuinely liberalising its import regime, Australian negotiators must remain firm.

Andrew McDonald, Chair of the Australia–EU Red Meat Market Access Taskforce, said Australia cannot afford to fall further behind other global suppliers...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Stories Making Waves Across Global Markets

Throughout the week, Expana’s team of dedicated journalists connects the industry with the “how” behind market dynamics, providing a comprehensive space for the market-moving stories shaping global headlines.

With so much information to filter through, Expana is connecting the dots with its weekly roundup of the top ten stories making waves — in no particular order.

10. USDA Launches New World Screwworm Grand Challenge

The USDA announced the launch of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge following reports that the flesh-eating parasitic...

At Davos, Von der Leyen Hails "Mother of All Deals" with India

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the European Union (EU) is nearing the conclusion of a free trade agreement with India.

While some details remain to be settled, she described the deal as “the mother of all deals,” highlighting that it would encompass a market of 2 billion people and represent nearly a quarter of global GDP, underscoring the EU’s goal to diversify its trade partnerships.

ANALYSIS: Australian Beef on Verge of Korea’s Safeguard Trigger, as 1H 2025 Imports Up 4.2% YOY

Korea’s beef safeguard on Australian imports is set to kick in weeks earlier than last year, as firmer buying in the first half of 2025 leaves little quota space before higher tariffs take effect.

Beef is Australia's biggest agricultural export to Korea. As of Aug. 11, Australia had filled 87.3% of its annual Special Agricultural Safeguards (SSG) limit, leaving 24,408 mt before hitting the ceiling, according to Korea Customs Service.

Most market players anticipated the safeguard would be triggered...

China’s Australian Beef Safeguard Kicks in 75 Days Earlier This Year Following Record Exports

China’s imports of Australian beef have triggered the 2025 Special Agricultural Safeguard (SSG) as of July 24, according to the latest announcement posted on the China International Trade Single Window, a website led by China’s National Ports Administration Office. 

Despite the higher annual quota volume for this year, this means the safeguard quota was exhausted in 205 days, 75 days earlier than in 2024. The safeguard limit was activated last year on October 6.  

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) took effect in...

Austria And Hungary Join France in Concerns over Mercosur Deal

Representatives from Austria and Hungary met with the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard. During the meeting, they “reiterated their strong concerns regarding the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries,” the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty said.

"Significant quantities of imported products produced under lower standards could lead to the exclusion of European agricultural products,” István Nagy, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture said. This could, the minister added, weigh on prices and on the profitability of EU...