Ag still sticking point for China FTA ANGUS GRIGG10 Mar, 2014 07:30 AM Print Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Comments 1 Trade Minister Andrew Robb. The threshold under which Australian agricultural products came to China was the main concern ... Trade Minister Andrew Robb. RELATED China optimistic on Australia FTA Dairy needs Japan FTA KAFTA ‘cars for cows’ deal questioned Poll: What’s your 12-month outlook for Australian agriculture? LATEST Inghams assets for sale Final Ashwood Park sale Buyers cautious at Euroa Drought pushes up coffee price Small crowd at Sale ANZs Smith splashes $10m on winery CHINESE Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng says the main sticking points to concluding a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia were Canberra relaxing conditions on imported labour, and greater access for Chinese firms. In another upbeat sign from Beijing, Mr Gao said he was optimistic that an FTA deal could be concluded in the shortest time. Judging from the initial contact we are optimistic on the outlook for signing this agreement, he told a press conference on Friday in Beijing. We have conducted two rounds of technical negotiations and we are looking forward to initiating a new round of negotiations when the person in charge visits China. This appeared to be a reference to Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who is due in China next month. Sentiment about the FTA was given a boost when Premier Li Keqiang told Chinas parliament on Wednesday that the country would accelerate FTA negotiations with Australia. He said FTA negotiations with South Korea and the Gulf Countries would be also be accelerated.Agriculture threshold a concern But from the comments by Commerce Minister Gao it appears some significant concessions will still be required from both sides. He said the threshold under which Australian agricultural products came to China was the main concern for Canberra. Geoff Raby, a former trade negotiator and Australian ambassador in Beijing, said Canberra would accept nothing less on agriculture than New Zealand achieved in its FTA with China. Mr Raby said this would involve the same access for Australian wine, dairy and sheep meat that New Zealand currently enjoys. The most sensitive area for the Chinese is dairy, as they have seen the scale of dairy imports from New Zealand in recent years, he said. Mr Raby, who still resides in Beijing and sits on the board of Fortescue Metals Group, said Australia is also looking for an enlarged quota for wool. New Zealand concluded its FTA with China in April 2008. Australia launched FTA talks with China at the same time as New Zealand in 2004, but despite 19 rounds of negotiations has been unable to conclude an agreement.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 04:28:13 +0000
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