7月20日，澳大利亞農業部長Barnaby Joyce表示，澳大利亞已經達成向中國出口活牛的協議。

“在過去的5年時間里，我們與中國在種牛交易上有很好的合作，但主要用于日常的乳制品。現在，我很高興地宣布，我們之間的貿易進一步緊密了，我們將開始出口活牛到中國。”Joyce對當地媒體表示。

Barnaby Joyce稱，該協議將為澳大利亞肉牛養殖戶打開有著巨大需求潛力的中國市場，每年為澳大利亞經濟帶來的價值為10億至20億澳元。他還稱，在8到10年內，對中國年活牛出口量有望達到100萬頭。

兩國在去年曾就活牛出口貿易達成原則上的共識，但由于中國擔憂潛在的藍舌病毒風險，導致貿易進程一度停滯。

有分析師表示，最新交易將幫助中國緩解牛肉短缺。

“如果中國允許活牛交易的數量巨大，就會對市場產生眾多影響。”荷蘭合作銀行處高級分析師潘晨軍認為，“中國可以充分利用活牛的各個部分，同時可以不只是專注于本地市場，也可以考慮出口。例如，牛排價格高于中國很多的日本。”（中國進出口網）

Some analysts said the latest deal would help China ease beef shortages.

On July 20, Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said Australia already reached an agreement to export alive cattle to China.

"In the past five years, we had very good cooperation with China on cattle trade, but mainly for daily dairy products. Now, I am pleased to announce that the trade between us is closer, and we will begin to export live cattle to China. "Joyce represents to the local media.

Barnaby Joyce said the agreement would help the Australian beef farmers open a huge demand potential of the Chinese market, each year it would bring the Australian economy with the value of 1 to 2 billion Australian dollars. He also said that in 8-10 years, China's annual imports of live cattle from Australia was expected to reach one million.

The two countries last year reached a consensus in principle on live cattle export trade, but because of China's concerns about the potential risk of bluetongue virus, the trade process was stalled.

"If China allows a huge number of live cattle trades, it will have a number of effects on the market." The senior analyst at the Dutch cooperative bank Pan Chenjun believes that "China can take advantage of the various parts of live cattle, and can not just focus on the local market, it can consider exporting to other countries, like Japan, in which the steak price is higher than China’s. "