BREAKING NEWS Key Trump ally launches scathing attack on Australia after President smashed the nation with 10% tariffs

A senior member of Donald Trumps cabinet has blasted Australias biosecurity rules after the Americans slapped 10 per cent tariffs on Australia.

Billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Australias quarantining system amounted to a barrier to American beef exporters.

Our farmers are blocked from selling almost anywhere - 1.4billion people in India and we cant sell them corn; Europe wont let us sell beef; Australia wont let us sell beef, he told CNN.

Australia, like the US, has biosecurity rules to keep out disease.

But Mr Lutnick argued this amounted to protectionism. 

They want to just protect, they want to say, "Oh, what, the seeds are different", he said.

Beef, Australias biggest export to the United States in 2024, now incurs a 10 per cent tariff.

This is despite the US being in the grip of a drought, which has diminished cattle herds and restricted beef production to the fattier, grain-fed variety. 

Australias superior grass-fed beef is needed to make hamburgers.

That kind of meat making up 96 per cent of Australias exports to the US last year.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Australias quarantining system amounted to a barrier to American beef exporters