| The following GAIN reports were released on March 7, 2025. _______ A major driver of Australia's manufacturing sector is its food, beverage, and grocery industries, which account for a third of all activity. Recent growth has been strong, with an 11% increase in turnover to US$107 billion in 2022-23. In 2024, Australia's imports of food processing ingredients totaled US$13.6 billion, of which the United States provided US$1.4 billion. This report consolidates China's announcements of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural, fishery, and forestry products as of March 10, 2025, and provides updates on the Chinese Government tariff exclusion processes for imports of U.S. products affected by the latest round of retaliatory tariffs announced on March 4, 2025. Post maintains its 2025 forecast on the decline of both pork and beef production. Due to the decline in domestic beef production and growing market demand, Post forecasts beef imports to grow in 2025. Post revised downward its 2025 pork import forecast to levels similar to 2024 owing to depressed demand. The report forecast reflects animal disease policies/restrictions and trade policies in place as of March 3, 2025 and assumes their continuation. Post acknowledges but does not include in its forecast the potential impacts of recent retaliatory tariffs announced on March 4, 2025, by the Chinese Government, which come into effect on March 10, 2025, as well as the impending registration expirations of hundreds of U.S. meat establishments as they are not in effect at the time of this publication. Market access for U.S. beef and pork remains constrained as the Chinese government is not implementing relevant annexes for meat trade specified in the Economic and Trade Agreement (i.e., Phase One Agreement). The People's Republic of China's exports of used cooking oil (UCO) reached a record high in 2024. The United States was the top export market for China's UCO at 1.27 million metric tons (MMT), up approximately 52 percent from 2023 and accounting for approximately 43 percent of China's total UCO exports. However, China eliminated the 13 percent export tax rebate for UCO on December 1, and December UCO exports dropped by 60 percent month over month. FAS Abidjan, Accra (Post) foresees Ivorian cocoa bean production in market year (MY) 2024/2025 (October-September) climbing upwards towards 1.8 million metric tons (MMT, improving by over 2 percent from the MY 2023/2024 season's 1.76 MMT production figure. Press reports point to the MY 2023/2024 season being 24 percent down compared to the earlier MY 2022/2023 season's production of 2.3 million MT due to poor weather. The MY 2024/2025 cocoa season is facing challenges, that impact domestic production. Heavy rainfall throughout September and October 2024, facilitated the spread of brown rot fungal disease (attributed to the fungus Phytophthora megakarya) in the country's western and southwestern production regions, potentially affecting yields. Since December 2024 and now into February 2025, Harmattan winds with a lack of suboptimal rainfall is raising concerns with cocoa farmers, who fear a repetition of the previous season's unfavorable growing conditions. On February 5, 2025, the Dominican Republic amended its Fiscal Control and Traceability System for Alcoholic Beverages and Cigars (TRAFICO), marking a significant victory for the U.S. alcoholic beverage industry. The amendment exempts importers of U.S. origin products from the burdensome system, which imposed additional costs and logistical challenges, ensuring continued competitiveness in the Dominican market. This success comes after extensive efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), other U.S. government agencies, and industry stakeholders, who worked together through bilateral engagements and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address concerns about the regulation's impact. Post estimates that the exemption safeguards between $1.6–3.3 million in U.S. exports, supporting the ongoing prosperity of the industry in one of its largest markets in the Western Hemisphere and within the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Malaysia recently revised its application forms for approval of meat, poultry, dairy, and other animal product production facilities. Additionally, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has implemented a new electronic process to apply for halal approval as required for meat and poultry products. This report provides an overview of the process to register animal product plants in Malaysia. Note: The information in this report applies only to facilities located in the United States. USDA is unable to assist with registration of facilities in other countries. The Government of Mexico extended the Presidential Anti-Inflation Decree through 2025, maintaining tariff-free access to Mexico's market for select agricultural products from non-free trade agreement partners. Since 2022, these measures have increased competition for U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico. Thailand's beef market offers significant growth potential for U.S. beef exports, particularly in the frozen beef segment. U.S. frozen boneless beef has grown by 24% from 2018 to 2023, reaching a total export volume of 1,083 tons in 2023. Beef consumption in Thailand is rising, driven by increasing incomes, urbanization, and a growing demand for premium products, with consumption expected to grow by 8% by 2025. Despite challenges like a 50% import tariff, U.S. beef has opportunities for expansion through strategic promotional efforts and collaboration, particularly in the foodservice sector and tourism-driven demand. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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