(NAFB.com) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said, for the first time in 20 years, Australia will accept shipments of fresh and frozen U.S. beef. That ends decades of bureaucratic red tape and prolonged negotiations that have prevented American cattle producers from accessing the Australian market. “For 20 years, U.S. beef was denied access to Australia while they exported $29 billion in beef to U.S. consumers,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein (WEAR-byne). “The lack of two-way, science-based trade has been a sticking point for many years, and we’re pleased the Australian market is officially open to U.S. beef.” The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2005 and was intended to allow U.S. beef to be sold in Australia. For 20 years, no U.S. beef could get into the Australian market, but during the same period, Australia sold more than $28 billion worth of beef on the United States’ market.