Cattle Australia Chair, David Foote, is urging Federal Minister Farrell and his trade negotiating team to level the playing field for Agrifood trade between the two blocs as part of the AUSTRALIA-EU FTA negotiations.
“Australia ranks in the Top 10 global destinations for EU Agrifoods with trade to Australia between 2018 – 2022 rising 34% to ~$6.2 billion per annum, to create a trade surplus in favour of the EU of around $2 billion per year since FTA negotiations commenced in 2018,” Mr Foote said.
“Our competitor exporters such as Canada, has negotiated duty-free access to the EU for 64,950 tonnes of beef including 14,950 tonnes “Hilton quota or New Zealand who negotiated an eight-fold increase in beef volumes and Southern Common Market (or MERCOSUR) countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay who negotiated 99,000 tonnes,” he said.
“We do not see it is in anyway unreasonable for the EU to willingly agree a more equitable trade and market access for our Australian Beef.
“This is an agreement that will likely stick for 50 years – let’s ensure it’s a fair trade deal not just a Free Trade deal,” Mr Foote said.
“Cattle Australia has joined with other Agri food commodities to support Minister Farrell walking away for the negotiation table if it’s a dud deal for Australian agriculture.”
-Cattle Australia