In A double windfall for farmers the Coalition has committed to pursuing comprehensive trade agreements – reaffirming agriculture as a central pillar in all negotiations – and returning to a dedicated, stand-alone federal trade minister who has a seat in Cabinet. “Some have suggested Australia should throw in the towel and carve out sensitive sectors, such as agriculture, from future trade negotiations,” National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President David Crombie explained.... ...Read more »

Recommendations in a draft review of bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), released today by the Productivity Commission (PC), would lower the threshold for Australian trade negotiations and carve out our precious farm exports, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned. The draft states: “In determining its approach to particular bilateral and regional trade agreements, Australia should adopt a more flexible approach to the comprehensiveness of agreements, including... ...Read more »

Four years of work by Western Australian researchers has opened the door for exports of Australian grapefruit to one of the world’s biggest markets.Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the decision by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was welcome news, potentially worth millions of dollars to Australia’s growing grapefruit industry. “Japan is the global pace maker for quarantine standards in many horticultural products,” Mr Redman said. “If... ...Read more »

Businesses across Australia will have the opportunity to learn about the commercial prospects in the $14.5 trillion United States market at seminars organised by Austrade (11-25 May), following the significant economic and policy changes in the US over the past two years.Austrade’s Regional Director for the Americas, Grame Barty, said with the United States recovery underway, the national seminar series entitled ‘New USA.Local Revival.Global Reach’ will highlight the opportunities in... ...Read more »

Australia and New Zealand have agreed on a series of actions to foster closer collaboration on trade and investment promotion to global markets.Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean said it was an important next step in building on the success of the trans-Tasman trade and economic partnership. “This series of bilateral initiatives is designed to accelerate economic integration between our two countries. “Following meetings between Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Key last year,... ...Read more »

The Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) today released its annual data and trends publication. This year’s Data & trends for the European Food and Drink Industry revealed that the EU is the world’s largest single exporter and importer of food and drink products worldwide, with a trade surplus of E1.1 billion in 2008. The food industry boasts the EU’s largest manufacturing sector in terms of turnover, and includes over 310 000 separate companies. Small... ...Read more »

Unease and uncertainty has been provoked among international food retailers in India by new restrictive guidelines issued that limit the already-restricted foreign investment in the country’s organised retail sector.India’s retail sector has held back foreign direct investment (FDI) but many in the sector was expecting a gradual liberalisation of rules on the ability of local players to strike deals with overseas partners. Instead, the Congress-led government has taken an unexpected step... ...Read more »

Over 140 Australian exhibitors are set to attend Asia’s biggest food industry event, Food and Hotel Asia 2010, this month. The Austrade-organised National Pavilion will showcase the finest Australian flavours and produce for top Asian buyers and importers, as part of Austrade’s strategy to boost food and beverage exports to South East Asia. The lineup will include wine exporter Inland Trading, gluten-free Rowie’s Cakes, organic meat supplier Australian Organic Meat, Queensland’s... ...Read more »

Nearly 5 000 West African farmers are now able to take advantage of the growing popularity of organic foods in industrialized countries thanks to a $2.4 million German-backed Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) programme that has helped them meet necessary certification and other requirements. The market for organic and fair-trade products in developed countries is expected to grow by about five to ten percent per year over the next three years, offering new opportunities for smallholder farmers... ...Read more »

The European Union has thrown its weight behind a ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna. Member states have agreed to back a ban during next week’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a spokesperson for the EU confirmed yesterday (11 March). “Europe will support a ban on the trade of bluefin tuna until stocks recover,” the spokesperson said. However, the EU is also backing exemptions for traditional fishermen and will call... ...Read more »