Trade

Strategic Objective Access to all commercially and strategically important markets on terms that maximises net returns to the industry

This objective relates to trade-related initiatives undertaken in relation to:
- Trade liberalisation
- Trade relations
-  Market access
- Tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade
- Quota allocation and management
- Product labelling, including country-of-origin labelling
- Non-technical barriers to trade

Issues

Market access work must be prioritised on best returning markets. Companies are exporting to more, and increasingly demanding countries who are concerned with an increasing range of trade related issues. Product diversification and the range of new market opportunities are increasing as consumer incomes and market demand expands.  

The ongoing delay to the conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Round is accelerating work on bilateral and plurilateral arrangements.  The industry will continue to provide support to government negotiators in their quest to secure international trade liberalisation, particularly for high value foreign markets, and improved access conditions.

Non-technical barriers to trade, such as the "food-miles" concept are increasing and industry needs to counter such issues moving from being fringe issues to becoming importing country government policy.

Key Priorities for 2007/2008

Coordinate the industry's trade and market access project through to completion of its objectives

Provide data, input and submissions to support government negotiation of bilateral free trade agreements or closer economic partnerships with the ASEAN and APEC economies, China, Egypt, the GCC states, Japan, India, Malaysia, Mexico and the USA

Assist industry with entry to emerging markets with new opportunities including gaining access for manufacturing meat into diversified markets