The positive impact of lower tariff barriers and opportunities for local Australian businesses to supply the markets of South East Asia were key issues under discussion at a seminar with North Asia during a seminar in Tamworth today.
Nationals Senator for Victoria and Chair of the Trade Sub Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Bridget McKenzie who opened the conference said there are significant opportunities for regional businesses to trade with South East Asia.
“Since the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement and the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement, significant and ongoing tariff reductions have provided advantages for many Australian products and services exported to these markets.
“Australian products now receive preferential access to more than a billion potential customers in China, Japan and Korea thanks to provisions negotiated by the Australian Government.
“Many local operators attended the seminar today, which are looking to export to South East Asian markets for the first time”.
“Tariffs on Australian beef entering China and Korea, for example, have fallen significantly and Australia is currently the only major beef producer with preferential access to Japan.
“For China the 10 per cent tariff on live slaughter and feeder cattle, and live slaughter sheep exports will be eliminated by 1 January 2019.
“Export opportunities are not just for big business, there excellent prospect for small and medium-sized businesses as well. There is a range of help and support out there for businesses to assist in accessing new and existing export markets.
“In fact, currently in Australia over 45,000 small and medium-sized business are utilising opportunities to export goods around the world,” Senator McKenzie said.
*Austrade and DFAT are running a series of North Asia FTA seminars across all Australian states and territories. Since March 2015, 85 seminars have been delivered around Australia.
15 November 2017