Market Access

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry works to remove trade barriers and improve access in key markets for Australia’s primary and processed food industries.

The department:

• identifies trade barriers and addresses them through bilateral talks at ministerial and senior official level, including through the department representatives in Australian missions in Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Jakarta, New Delhi, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, Washington, and the Australian permanent delegation to the OECD in Paris 
• supports programs developed through the National Food Industry Strategy, including the AQIS Technical Program, to reduce or remove non-tariff barriers for Australian primary products, and particularly food, into Asia
• contributes to Australian Government policies affecting agricultural trade and international relations
• reduces distortions by participating in World Trade Organization negotiations
• maintains and improves market access opportunities through Free Trade Agreements and other bilateral agreements
• facilitates technical assistance and agricultural cooperation with other countries
• mitigates external risks to our plant and animal health status, and
• works through international organisations to develop international trade standards that facilitate trade in Australian products, and reflect Australian policy positions and interests. These organisations include:
• • WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Treaties - Plant genetic resources Treaty 
  • Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  • World Organisation for Animal Health
  • International Plant Protection Convention
  • Codex Alimentarius Commission