Australia benefits from Brazil beef scandal with new China deal
Even though China has lifted an import ban on Brazilian beef following the meat scandal, the affair continues to have consequences. A new deal has given Australia a way to reclaim market share after losing out to Brazil's beef exporters last year. The new agreement allows more Australian chilled-meat processors to ship to China, increases the amount of live animals that can be exported and could see beef exports to mainland China reaching AUD1bn (USD765m). Brazilian meat imports were suspended by a number of countries after a corruption scandal in the country's meatpacking industry.

SYDNEY -- Brazil's tainted beef scandal looks to be almost over with China lifting its import ban, but a new meat agreement between China and Australia offers Australian beef exporters a chance to reclaim market share lost to the South American country last year.

Australia gave ground in the lucrative Chinese high-quality meat market in 2016 under pressure from aggressive Brazilian beef exporters, whose cheaper currency gave them a competitive edge, allowing Brazil to become the biggest supplier with 29% of Chinese beef imports.