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Friday, 13 August 2004 Federal Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile addressed the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) Annual Conference in Canberra on 12 August 2004. Minister Vaile outlined the government’s role in what has been a hectic international trade policy calendar. Recent developments include the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, World Trade Organisation (WTO) developments and the Joint Feasibility Study with China on a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA). RGA delegates showed their support for Minister Vaile and the Government in pursuing bilateral agreements as a means of advancing Australia’s interests in the trade of agricultural products. “In difficult circumstances Minister Vaile and his team managed to negotiate an FTA that will deliver substantial benefits to Australian agriculture,” said RGA trade representative, Ian Mason. “Importantly the deal did not affect the rice industry’s marketing arrangements. These arrangements are not trade distorting or anti-competitive,” said Mr Mason. In echoing the position of Conference delegates, Mr Mason also urged the Minister to continue Australia’s push for genuine reform through the WTO. “Our highly subsidised global competitors made small steps towards reform recently in Geneva. Despite this there has been little or no movement in the area of market access,” said Mr Mason. “If we are to realise an ambitious outcome from the current WTO round then the opening of international markets, which are so crucial in reforming the international rice trade, must be an integral part on the Doha round, “Unless this is achieved, we will continue to operate in an environment where a barrier to trade, such as an out-of-quota tariff of over 400% in the case of Japan, is acceptable,” said Mr Mason. Mark Vaile recognised this at the conference and noted that rice is one of the world’s most protected agricultural commodities and appreciates how important increased market access is for the industry. CONTACT |
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