SHEEP and goat meat tariffs into Canada and Mexico will be eliminated under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement signed in Chile today.
MLA general manager – international markets, Michael Finucan said the CPTPP agreement will eliminate Mexico’s 10 percent sheep meat and goat meat tariffs within eight years.
“The majority of offal tariffs will be eliminated on entry into force; and the 10-15pc tariffs on live animals will also be eliminated on EIF.”
Canada’s 2.5 percent tariff on Australian sheep meat will be also eliminated on the agreement coming into force.
Mr Finucan said the CPTPP will complement the recently concluded Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which will see the 9pc sheep meat and goat meat tariffs eliminated on EIF under both agreements.
“Peru represents a new market opportunity for Australian red meat, pending the development of protocol arrangements.”
In relation to CPTPP members — Japan, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam — existing bilateral and / or regional agreements have, or are already delivering, market access improvements, Mr Finucan said.
A Red Meat Advisory Council statement said the Australian red meat industry welcomed the signing and looked forward to realising significant market access gains once the CPTPP enters into force.
The CPTPP, signed by the trade ministers of the eleven countries party to the agreement is the largest agreement of its kind and is the result of many years of negotiations, RMAC said.
RMAC independent chair Don Mackay lauded the signing on behalf of the multitude of Australian businesses involved in the red meat supply chain.
“The signing of CPTPP is a significant milestone for the Australian red meat industry, and entry into force will see enhanced market access gains in key red meat markets such as Japan, Mexico and Canada, and offer new export opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.
“The Australian red meat and livestock industry has been a strong supporter of the Australian Government’s efforts in pursuing these negotiations, given the prospect of improving the competitiveness of Australian product in our international markets,” he said.
“Industry will continue to advocate for swift ratification and entry into force of the CPTPP, with the first tranche of tariff cuts being an important step in realising the benefits of the agreement.
Agreement is real game-changer – Littleproud
National Farmers’ Federation president Fiona Simson said the wins for agriculture would be wide-ranging and highly valuable.
“The TPP-11 offers preferential market access for dairy; cotton; barley; beef and live cattle; offal, processed meat and animal fats; sheep meat; seafood; wheat and wine.”
She said today’s signing was a result of commitment by Australia’s Trade Minister Steven Ciobo and the Federal Government to find a way through the difficulties.
Sources: MLA, RMAC, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.
It’s all well and good for the politicians and MLA to spruik about how good they are; telling us how much gain they have supposedly made for us. But What did it cost us? These countries don’t come to the bargaining table without asking for something in return. So I challenge the MLA and the federal government to show us all the cards dealt. What exactly did all these so called ‘free trade agreements’ cost us? There is no such thing as a “free dinner” as the saying goes. It will cost someone something somewhere. Quite frankly, I think the MLA and the government don’t want us knowing what it really cost us.