A Free Trade Agreement negotiated five years ago reduced tariffs on most Australian products, but not table grapes.The harvest is underway in the Sunraysia of Victoria, but now, fruit arriving in Thailand will cost consumers more.
Table grape exporter David Minnis says exports of tablegrapes to Thailand have halved in four years.
"We're left with an FTA that is less than satisfying and as a result of Thailand joining the WTO and signing off on quarantine and phytosanitary agreements, it's become much more difficult to serve that market."
Exports to China are also proving expensive, with an overall cost of flying in Chinese inspectors, with business class travel and accommodation, adding up to $150,000 this season.
Jeff Scott, chief executive of the Tablegrape Growers Association, based in Sunraysia, says he hopes new technical arrangements with China can do away with the need for Chinese inspectors.
"So far we've had six inspectors come out, and under the Chinese protocol arrangements, they'll only come out for no longer than one month at a time.
"The cost to bring them out each time is about $20,000 in travel and accommodation and a daily allowance of $117 per day each.
"The Chinese have gained knowledge that all Australian inspectors fly business class, so they're asking to fly business class this year.
"We could bring it (the price) down to zero if they don't come out. It's a decent saving that could be passed back onto the grower."
The Australian tablegrape industry is valued at $307 million, but ABARES predicts it will fall by $30 million over the next five years.
