OUR PRESENT GOVERNMENT IS MAKING SOME GOOD MOVES AT THIS TIME AND I EXPECT THERE COULD BE A FEW MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO NEW CONCEPTS FOR FAVORABLE CHANGES TO OCCUR. WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD AND NOT BACK. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DEVELOP NEW AND POSITIVE MINDSETS, IT'S A GOOD THING - HOW MUCH COULD AUSTRALIA BENEFIT IF A GOVERNMENT IN POWER CAN CHANGE IT'S MINDSET AND ADAPT TO NEW CONCEPTS? IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE ABOUT TO SEE.
Australia Begins Free-Trade Agreement Talks With United Kingdom
By Jamieson Murphy Jun 2020
AUSTRALIA has officially begun negotiating a free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom, the Trade Minister has revealed.
Simon Birmingham made the announcement on Wednesday and said Australia would be looking to secure better market access for its export goods, especially in agriculture.
Recent agreements have seen the two countries become closer trading partners, however they were not allowed to start free-trade negotiations until the UK had formally left the European Union (EU) earlier this year.
Mr Birmingham said there was "no doubt" Australia was a causality of the UK's entry into the EU economic community nearly half a century ago.
"In 1973, the UK was third largest two-way trade partner, now it is our 12th," he said.
"UK consumers turned away from Australia produce when high tariffs and low quotes were imposed as a result of their membership of the EU."
Although Mr Birmingham doesn't expect a return to the huge volume of trade flowing between the two countries in the 1970s, there was "definitely room for upside".
"Take for example Australian wine - one in five bottles of wine sold in the UK is Australian wine," he said.
"But we've reached that point of success in the UK market while consumers pay a tariff. They don't pay a tariff on French, Italian or Spanish wines.
"If we can eliminate that tariff, that's going to either mean our winemakers can get a bigger margin and enjoy a greater profit or that they can be even more competitive."
Australia also begun FTA negotiations with the EU earlier this year.
"I don't have a favoured child in that regard, I want to love them both equally," Mr Birmingham joked.
"Hopefully we might see a bit of competitive tension in that mix of running them both at the same time.
"We would love them to be concluded this year. Ultimately they will be completed when it's a good deal that is in our best interest."
Although the EU was a much bigger market, Mr Birmgham said that did not lessen the significant opportunities the UK deal would reap.
"[The UK] has 67 million people, it's a G20 country, it's got a bigger economy than ours," he said.
The story Australia begins free-trade talks with United Kingdom first appeared on Farm Online.
'New economic chapter' as Indonesia free-trade agreement begins
By Jamieson Murphy Jul 2020
AUSTRALIA'S new free-trade agreement with Indonesia, the world's fourth largest country, officially began on Sunday.
The landmark trade agreement is expected to give an export boost to farmers and businesses who have been doing it tough during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the free-trade agreement (FTA) was the start of a "new economic chapter" between the two countries.
"This is the most comprehensive bilateral trade agreement Indonesia has ever signed, and will give our exporters a competitive edge in what is one of the fastest growing economies in the world," Mr Birmingham said.
"With a population of over 260 million and a growing middle-class, Indonesia presents huge opportunities for our exporters across a range of sectors including agriculture, education, tourism, energy and mining services."
The FTA has a number of "major wins across the board" for farmers, with lower tariffs and improved access for grains, live cattle and meat, dairy and horticulture.
"For example, our grains growers will now be able to export 500,000 tonnes of feed grains including wheat and barley into Indonesia tariff free," Mr Birmingham said.
"This will provide a significant boost for the Australian grains industry, building on our substantial milling wheat exports."
The Indonesian FTA also coincides with the federal government's $240 million support package for international exporters, which will help keep international freight routes and flights operating.
The temporary program has already helped secure carriage of more than 36,000 tonnes of exports to 50 key international destinations.
"With international travel restrictions expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future, our exporters and key importers will continue to face significant barriers," Mr Birmingham said.
"These freight flights have been critical to getting produce out the door during these tough times and helping to keep our exporters in business and connected to their hard-won established global customers."
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the freight support was a major win for Australian farmers.
"We're backing our farmers by making sure they can continue to get more of their high-quality product into overseas markets," Mr Littleproud said.
"Keeping our farmers connected with their established international customers will help them keep their operations going so they can keep producing a top quality export product and enhance their reputation as a reliable partner."
The story 'New economic chapter' as Indonesia free-trade agreement begins first appeared on Farm Online.
Indonesia-Australia trade deal provides savings for dairy exports
6 Jul 2020
ALL tariffs on Australian dairy exports into Indonesia will eventually be scrapped as part of a new economic partnership agreement between the two countries, providing millions of dollars in savings for Australia's dairy industry.
The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA- CEPA), which came into force on Sunday, will build upon the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) by immediately removing existing tariffs on skim milk powder, whole milk powder and grated and powdered cheese.
Remaining tariffs on liquid milk will also be phased out by 2033, giving Australian dairy a competitive advantage over major dairy competitors in that market.
The agreement will also address non-tariff measures.
The Australian Dairy Industry Council has welcomed the deal, saying it will create a closer relationship with one of Australia's largest trading partners.
Indonesia is a large and growing importer of Australian dairy and is now ranked only behind China and Japan as Australia's third largest dairy export market on value terms.
In 2018/19, Australia exported 56,647 tonnes of dairy to the Indonesian market, valued at A$192 million.
"As Australia's close neighbour with strong existing ties with our dairy industry, launching IA-CEPA will enhance the naturally emerging opportunities that are presenting themselves in Indonesia," ADIC Chair Terry Richardson said.
"This is a positive result for the Australian dairy industry and we thank Trade Minister Simon Birmingham and the Australian Government for delivering this outcome."
The IA-CEPA and AANZFTA will collectively provide an estimated saving of over A$10.5 million in tariffs that would otherwise be levied on Australian dairy exports to Indonesia if neither agreement was in force, according to the ADIC.
The story Indonesia-Australia trade deal provides savings for dairy exports first appeared on Farm Online.
IT SEEMS VERY MUCH LIKE SOME NATIONS ARE FEELING COMPASSION FOR US TOO, DO YOU THINK? AFTER OUR RECENT PLIGHTS WITH THE BUSHFIRES AND THEN CHINA. I KNOW THIS IS TRUE WITH PEOPLE IN JAMAICA - I'VE HAD MANY A COMMENT AND WELL WISHES IN RECENT MONTHS WHEN PHONING OFF-SHORE WORKERS THERE (a webhosting company) THEIR CONCERN FOR US IS WIDESPREAD. CARING FOR OUR FELLOW HUMAN-BEINGS IS ONE GOOD THING, YOU COULD SAY, THAT'S COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC SITUATION. ALL A SUDDEN, WE SEE THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY, SO TO SPEAK - NOT JUST OUR COUNTRY. IT IS SO NICE TO THINK OF MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THIS GLOBE THINKING AND CARING ABOUT US. HEY?