(MENAFN) Australia has voiced approval after the United States decided to remove tariffs on several food imports, including beef, although Canberra stressed that it remains firmly against the use of trade levies in general.

"We welcome the lifting of these tariffs. That's a good thing for Australian beef producers. We maintain a clear, consistent position. We do not support tariffs," Penny Wong said during an interview with a national broadcaster. She emphasized that Australia favors open access to markets, noting that such openness benefits both consumers and producers. "Canberra believes in being able to access each other's markets. We think that's in the best interest of consumers as well as of producers," she added.

The policy change followed an executive order signed on Friday, in which the US president removed tariffs on various imported food products — among them beef, coffee, and bananas — amid rising concern over increasing food costs for American households.

As a result, Australian beef, one of the country's major agricultural exports to the US, is no longer subject to the previous 10% charge. Wong remarked that her government will continue pushing for the elimination of additional trade barriers, saying Australia will "keep advocating our position" regarding other remaining tariffs.

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