Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said products such as cherries from Tasmania, table grapes, citrus and a range of other fruits had access to vastly improved trade conditions in the past 18 months in many of Australia’s key markets.
“Our horticultural exports have exploded recently giving producers and exporters a big boost across Australia with improved farmgate returns,” Minister Joyce said.
“Improved market access for Tasmanian cherries to South Korea and other parts of Asia has boosted cherry exports by 30 per cent this season. This is a great result for growers and industry experts predict cherry exports from Tasmania could rise as much as 25-fold under the Korea—Australia Free Trade Agreement which has seen exports increase from virtually nothing to almost $4 million this year.
“Mango exports to Korea for the 2014–15 season more than doubled those of the 2013–14 season and exports are now up to around 12 per cent of total production.”
“We’ve gained new market access for table grapes to Japan and Korea which has created significant new growth in exports in the 2015 season, with exports to Japan worth around $10 million and exports to Korea worth over $2.5 million.
“Other key horticulture exports including asparagus, mangoes, olives and macadamias now face zero tariffs entering Japan. Similarly, cherries from Tasmania, almonds and dried grapes enter Korea duty free.
“Once the China—Australia FTA enters into force, all tariffs on horticulture products will be eliminated within four years, except citrus where tariffs will be eliminated within 8 years.
Minister Joyce emphasised the role of recent free trade agreements in providing further opportunities for Australian agricultural exports.
“Our recent free trade agreements with South Korea, Japan and China eliminate tariffs on key horticultural products and greatly increase the competitiveness or our horticultural exports,” Minister Joyce said.
“We’re also at the table negotiating new trade agreements with India, and key Asia-Pacific regional trading partners through Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Trans-Pacific Partnership."
