FTA a good start

Tuesday, 10 February, 2004 - 21:00

 

FTA a good start

WHILE Australia’s new trade agreement with the US contains longer than expected access provisions for Australian agricultural products, it is an important beginning.

As global trade is subjected to increasing disruption, there must be a benefit for major producing countries such as the US and Australia having the “insurance” of shared access and trading arrangements already in place.

Our negotiators were compromised to an 18-year “phase-in” for beef instead of the 15 years they were seeking but the new agreement is better than we had yesterday and I believe it is an agreement that will quickly build in importance.

Pastoralists & Graziers Association

Barry Court