Australia’s Trade Minister DFon Farrell, second from left, with other trade ministers from around the world at the G20 summit. Source – Don Farrell, Facebook.

AUSTRALIA’S sheep meat processing sector and producer leadership was today silent on the prospect of American and Australian lamb producers co-operating on a support package to avert import restrictions or higher tariffs.

This is despite Trade Minister Don Farrell this week meeting with top Australian lamb exporters with US operations on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Milwaukee to discuss how Australia and the US can work together to support and strengthen the respective lamb industries.

Mr Farrell’s office confirmed this meeting included a representative of Meat & Livestock Australia and some of Australia’s largest meat producers and exporters – Fletchers, Thomas Foods and JBS.

Sheep Central was told Minister Farrell also raised his suggestion that Australia and the United States cooperate on a package of support designed to strengthen lamb producers in both countries.

In July 2026, the US initiated a Section 201 global safeguard investigation into lamb imports from all countries, including Australia. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is currently examining the matter in a lamb meat global safeguard investigation.

The Australian Government has expressed its disappointment that the United States has commenced the Section 201 investigation into global lamb imports and at the G20 Trade Ministers summit forum in the US this week Mr Farrell held high level meetings with key international partners to advocate for Australia’s interests.

However, despite Sheep Central also being told of industry meetings in Australia canvassing options to avoid import restrictions or higher tariffs should the ITC investigation find that lamb imports had damaged the US lamb sector, Meat & Livestock Australia, Sheepmeat Producers Australia and the Australian Meat Industry Council would not confirm if the use of MLA levy funds had been considered to fund Mr Farrell’s “package of support.”

AMIC chief executive officer Tim Ryan said AMIC and its industry colleagues remain focused on the upcoming US International Trade Commission injury hearing and ensuring the industry’s position is accurately represented.

“AMIC maintains that imported lamb is not a cause of injury to the US sheep industry.

“Australian businesses and exporters have a long track record of investing in the US lamb supply chain and developing demand – which ultimately benefits the US industry,” he said.

“The Australian and US sheep industry have a history of collaboration across a range of forums for mutual benefit.”

‘Super’ idea for lamb canned

Minister Farrell has also faced criticism for suggesting at the G20 summit that Australian superannuation funds should consider investing in the US lamb industry.

Claiming Mr Farrell was unavailable for comment, the minister’s office today referred Sheep Central to reports by the ABC, the Australian and the Australian Financial Review that he has asked the Trump administration to consider sparing Australian sheep farmers from a higher tariff in exchange for Australian investment in the US lamb industry.

The ABC reported that Minister Farrell’s idea could see Australians’ superannuation savings invested in American meat-processing facilities, but Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia chief executive officer Mary Delahunty said the idea had “not been raised with the superannuation sector”. Sheep Central did not receive Ms Delahunty’s response to a request for comment on whether she thought Australian lamb industry levy monies would be a more appropriate source of investment funds for the US lamb industry.

Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said Labor’s desperation to spend other people’s money was now reaching new heights, with Mr Farrell’s pitch to the US that Australia’s $4.8 trillion superannuation sector could invest in America’s lamb industry to head off additional tariffs.

“Labor’s latest attempt to spend other people’s money for their own purposes is bizarre and confusing.

“Just weeks ago, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the next election will be super’s existential moment and it will help determine whether we make the most of our intergenerational advantages or trash them,” Senator Canavan said.

“Treasurer Chalmers also said the Labor was taking steps to ensure the retirement phase of super delivers more for members.

“But that is clearly not the case, if Labor is now using the promise of superannuation investment in the US to woo the Trump Administration,” he said.

“If Treasurer Chalmers apparently wants to protect superannuation then why is Minister Farrell now saying the Labor government should raid it, to get favour with other countries?

“Superannuation is your money,” Senator Canavan said.

“It’s not Labor’s piggy bank. But the Prime Minister has called your super a ‘national asset’, and now Minister Farrell says super funds have an obligation to consider investments in the national interest.

“Super is there for people’s retirement after a lifetime of saving, not as a way to help Labor get itself out of holes that it dug itself.”

Senator Canavan said superannuation funds should be invested for the best financial interests of its members, not Labor’s interests.

“For the Trade Minister to think that Australian super funds have an obligation to assist in boosting trade in the US is actually quite scary and to use superannuation as a negotiating tool for tariffs is surely a new low.

“Treasurer Chalmers and Minister Farrell are at odds with each other, but it is Australians who suffer as a consequence.”

Minister Farrell’s office said he continues to advocate for Australia’s lamb industry with his counterpart, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Australian Embassy in Washington DC is also pressing the case for our lamb exporters.

Australia supplies more than 70 percent of lamb imports to the United States and the Australian industry has made significant investment in onshore operations in the US, including Thomas Foods new processing facility in Jacksonville, Florida, and Fletchers headquartering their US arm in Chicago.

Minister Farrell office said he has consistently called for Australia’s trade agreement with the United States to be honoured in full and for all tariffs to be removed.