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Agricultural Trade - Review of Developments
Progress on Agricultural trade issues changes on a daily basis. The information below only provides a snapshot as at 7 October 2008. This page is updated six times a year.
WTO Doha Round Negotiations
Following the breakdown of the negotiations at the July Ministerial Meeting, senior agriculture officials from a leadership group of seven WTO members (referred to as the G7 and comprising Australia, Brazil, China, EU, India, Japan and the United States) restarted negotiations in September in an attempt to overcome some of the remaining obstacles.
The group initially focused on exploring ways to resolve the impasse on the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) noting the need for developing countries to have access to a remedy for import surges and the need for exporters to ensure that normal trade, and trade growth, could continue.
Unfortunately the group was still unable to reach consensus on a solution to the SSM despite almost two weeks of negotiations. The G7 has been suspended for the time being.
The Chair of the agriculture negotiations, Crawford Falconer, has now commenced a small group process (labeled as ‘walk in the woods’) in which he meets with groupings of around five members to test ideas. Falconer will undertake this process in the first part of October before convening a meeting of the wider membership in mid-late October.
DAFF continues to support the Doha Round through the provision of technical assistance and advice to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In doing so, the department seeks to ensure the views and interests of Australia’s agricultural sector are brought to the attention of negotiators.
WTO Dispute Settlement Actions
NZ WTO action against Australia’s quarantine measures for apples: On 31 August 2007, NZ initiated a WTO dispute over Australia’s quarantine measures contained in the final Import Risk Analysis for the Importation of NZ apples. NZ lodged its first written submission in the dispute on 20 June 2008 and Australia lodged its rebuttal submission on 18 July (available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website). The first WTO Panel hearing was held on 2-3 September 2008 in Geneva. The hearing was preliminary in nature with the WTO Panel asking a series of legal and scientific/technical questions to clarify the scope of the dispute and the claims of the parties. An Australian Apple and Pear Limited representative was also in Geneva to observe the hearing. The second Panel hearing will be held in early 2009 and a Panel ruling is not expected until the second half of 2009. The Australian Government will continue to consult regularly with stakeholders, including apple and pear industry representatives, during the course of the dispute. Australia continues to robustly defend Australia’s science-based measures.
WTO action against US farm subsidies and export credits: A WTO dispute panel was created on 17 December 2007 in relation to US agricultural subsidy programs and export credit guarantees for agricultural products following the requests by Canada (8 January 2007) and Brazil (11 July 2007) for dispute consultations with the US. Australia has joined the dispute as a third party on the basis of legal and commercial interests. Other third parties are Argentina, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, the EC, India, Japan, Mexico, NZ, Nicaragua, South Africa and Thailand.
WTO action against India’s wine and spirits regime: On 6 March 2007, the US requested dispute consultations with India in relation to additional duties and taxes applied to India's imports of US wines and distilled products. The report of the panel was issued on 9 June 2008, following the panel hearing on 17-19 September 2007 at which Australia made a brief oral statement. The panel found that the US had failed to establish that the additional duties and charges on imported alcoholic liquor were in excess of those being charged on domestic like products. On 1 August 2008, the US advised the Dispute Settlement Body of its decision to appeal the report of the panel. Australia provided a third participant submission to the Appellate Body on 26 August and an oral statement at the hearing on 4 September in Geneva. Other third parties include Chile, the EC, Japan and Vietnam.
Philippines WTO challenges to Australia’s quarantine arrangements: The Philippines has not advanced its WTO challenge to Australia’s quarantine regime (although it remains a ‘live’ dispute – initiated in 2003). In particular, it has not requested that the WTO compose a panel to hear its challenge, which is the next step in the dispute process, but is free to do so at any time. The Philippines’ second WTO dispute against Australia’s quarantine measures affecting the importation of fresh pineapples remains at the initial stage of bilateral consultations (initiated late 2002). On 5 December 2007, DFAT, in consultation with DAFF, commenced discussions with the Philippines aimed at reaching a mutually agreed solution to the WTO dispute on fresh pineapples.
WTO action against US cotton subsidies: In 2002, Brazil requested a WTO dispute settlement panel in relation to allegedly prohibited and actionable subsidies provided to US users and exporters of upland cotton. The panel report circulated on 8 September 2004 found that US agricultural export credit guarantees were in violation of WTO export subsidy rules, that the US had granted several prohibited subsidies to cotton and that US subsidy programs for cotton had caused serious prejudice to Brazil by suppressing the world price for cotton. On appeal, the Appellate Body largely upheld the panel’s findings.
On 18 December 2007, the compliance panel found the US had failed to remove the adverse effects of the marketing loan and counter cyclical payment subsidies that had been found to be causing significant price suppression. The compliance panel also found that the US was continuing to provide prohibited export subsidies through the GSM 102 export credit guarantee program. The US subsequently appealed the decision to the Appellate Body. On 2 June 2008, the Appellate Body upheld the key findings of the original compliance panel report, confirming that the US had failed to bring its export credit guarantee program into conformity with relevant WTO provisions and that the marketing loan and counter-cyclical payments is causing significant price suppression. By continuing to make these payments, the US had failed to take appropriate steps to remove their adverse effects or withdraw the subsidy.
Australia participated in the original and compliance proceedings in the dispute as a third party along with Argentina, Benin, Canada, Chad, China, Chinese Taipei, the EC, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Venezuela, Japan and Thailand.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations
China: The twelfth round of negotiations on the Australia-China FTA was held in Canberra from 22 to 26 September 2008. Progress was made on chapter text including for sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and rules of origin.
Following China’s revised tariff offer from the eleventh round, the two sides intensified discussions on priority product areas, particularly agriculture, where Australia considers China’s offer needs to be improved. The two sides have agreed in principle to hold the next round of negotiations in the first half of December 2008.
Malaysia: Negotiations on an FTA with Malaysia have been underway since April 2005. Four full rounds of negotiations have been held with the most recent being in July 2006. No negotiations were held in 2007 and the Australian and Malaysian Governments have agreed that negotiations should remain on hold until the conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (expected in late 2008).
Gulf Cooperation Council: Two rounds of the Australia-GCC FTA have been held to date, in July/August and November 2007. Recent advice is that a third round, that was to be held in October 2008, will not be held this year. Some progress has been made in a number of important areas across the agreement, including services and investment, SPS and rules of origin. However, the GCC is yet to table a goods offer.
Australia, NZ and ASEAN: Negotiations for an ASEAN Australia New Zealand FTA began in November 2004. These negotiations have intensified over the past 18 months and on 25 August 2008 Minister Crean announced that negotiations had largely concluded apart from automotive negotiations with Indonesia and Malaysia. The text of the agreement is now finalised and tariff schedules should be completed by late 2008.
Japan: In December 2006, Japan and Australia agreed to enter into free trade agreement negotiations, and since then six negotiating rounds have been held, with the most recent (6th) round held on 28 July to 1 August 2008. The 7th round will occur in late October 2008. Agricultural commodities of focus in that round will be sugar and rice (previous rounds have focused on beef, dairy, wheat and barely). The FTA negotiations, with respect to agriculture, are moving slowly. Australia continues to present liberalisation options to Japan and Japan continues to exclude the key agricultural commodities of interest to Australia (beef, dairy, wheat, barley, sugar and rice) from liberalisation under the agreement. Prospects for a more inclusive approach appear limited ahead prior to Japan’s lower house elections, which are scheduled to occur before September 2009.
Republic of Korea: The joint private sector study into the feasibility of an Australia–Korea FTA was presented to both governments in April 2008. Prime Minister Rudd and Korean President Lee jointly announced in early September that their officials would hold preparatory FTA talks. The preparatory talks provide a step towards commencing full negotiations and the first talks are being held in October 2008 in Seoul. The scope of the talks is still being determined. Conclusion of an FTA with Korea will enhance Australia’s beef trade position in Korea vis-à-vis the United States (US), our biggest competitor, who will gain preferential access under the Korea-US (KORUS) FTA when ratified.
Chile: Australia and Chile have signed a free trade agreement (FTA). The FTA delivers the most comprehensive outcome on goods and tariff reductions in any FTA that Australia has negotiated with another agricultural producing country since the Closer Economic Relations Agreement with New Zealand signed in 1983. The FTA provides for the immediate elimination of Chile’s tariffs for all meat and wine products, as well as on key dairy products which Australian industry identified as a priority. The Australian and Chilean Governments are working towards the FTA entering into force on 1 January 2009. As an adjunct to the FTA, Chile and Australia exchanged side letters agreeing to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on beef grading. The MoU has not been finalised but it will provide for Chile’s recognition that Australia’s beef grading system meets Chilean requirements. Thus enabling beef to be sent to Chile without the need for Chilean graders to inspect export beef at Australian plants.
Mexico: The Joint Experts Group is currently developing a report and plans to present its findings to the Australian and Mexican Ministers for Trade in the second half of 2008. The report will include a chapter on the current economic and trade relationship, an assessment of the current agricultural trade relationship as well as identifying impediments to and opportunities for future agricultural trade. It is also expected that the report will provide a preliminary evaluation of a possible free trade agreement between Australia and Mexico.
India: Australia and India are expecting to complete the joint feasibility study on the merits of an FTA between the two countries by the end of 2008. The officials-level joint study group (JSG) has met in New Delhi (17 April 2008), Melbourne (21 May 2008) and New Delhi (11-12 August 2008) with a further meeting expected in October 2008. DFAT is coordinating the study and is accepting public submissions. Industry consultations have also taken place in capital cities.
Indonesia: In July 2007, Australia and Indonesia agreed to commence a joint feasibility study to examine the merits of a bilateral FTA. The Joint Study Group developing the feasibility study met for the first time in December 2007 in Jakarta and for the second time in Canberra in April 2008. As with the India FTA feasibility study, DFAT is coordinating the study with input from stakeholders including DAFF.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty), negotiated under the auspices of the United Nation’s FAO, provides a legal framework for the conservation, sustainable use and international exchange of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture for global food security and sustainable agriculture. Access to new varieties is particularly important for Australia given increasing pressure in the agriculture sector to deal with water resource issues, pests and diseases and climate variability and change.
The Second Session of the Governing Body of the Treaty was held at FAO headquarters in Rome 29 October to 2 November 2007. At its Second Session, the Governing Body adopted a budget and program of work, and made progress on key issues such as implementation of the Funding Strategy and Farmers’ Rights. The Governing Body however recognised that while the Treaty is operating well, it is facing serious resource constraints.
The Governing Body expressed concern over the financial situation of the Treaty. Some parties have suggested that countries that have heavily influenced the Treaty negotiations, and wish to continue in this role, will need to consider fulfilling voluntary pledges to the Funding Strategy and the running of the Secretariat. Australia represents the South West Pacific Region on the Bureau of the Governing Body and has provided assistance to the South West Pacific Region developing countries, through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, to accede to and engage in Treaty activities. Australia has not yet made a voluntary contribution to the Treaty’s Core Administrative Budget, but has made significant contributions to other areas of the Treaty’s Funding Strategy, such as the Global Crop Diversity Trust. In addition to the regional capacity building activities above, Australia is one of the largest donors to the Trust with $12.78 million of the pledged $16.5 million deposited so far.
US Developments
US Farm Bill 2008: The 2008 Farm Bill became law on 22 May 2008 after the difficult process of conferencing the House and Senate versions of their draft Bills and two Presidential vetoes, each of which was overturned by majority votes in both houses of the Congress.
The Bill maintains many of the programs of the 2002 Farm Bill and is a disappointing outcome. It maintains, or increases, subsidies to producers of major crops while devoting more money to conservation, renewable energy, nutrition and specialty crop programs. The Bill also continues direct payments, which are distributed to some farmers regardless of the level of production, and the target price for wheat which will increase the support that will be provided to the wheat sector if prices fall below current levels.
The US Administration is progressively implementing the provisions of the Farm Bill but, due to the lengthy rule-making process that applies to US regulatory measures, this process is unlikely to be completed before the US elections to be held in November 2008.
The Australian Government continues to voice concerns to the US Administration and Congress over a number of aspects of the 2008 Bill including the Dairy Import Assessment Tax, and sugar provisions, which guarantee that domestic producers will supply at least 85 per cent of the sugar used for domestic consumption.
Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA): The Australian Government continues to engage with the US for improved access for Australia’s agricultural exports, including sugar and dairy products. Market access currently constrained by technical barriers is also being progressed under the sanitary and phytosanitary structures of the AUSFTA. Australia’s current priorities for access to the US are cherries, mangoes, lychees and stone fruit. Access for mainland cherries is now agreed as well as an agreed treatment for mangoes although the US administrative rulemaking process will mean exports are unlikely to commence for some time.
Wine appellations: Representations to the US Trade Representative and the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) seeking to redress the discriminatory treatment of wines imported into the US bearing multi-region wine appellations have been successful. The TTB has confirmed it will be drafting a Federal Regulation to allow Australian wines imported into the US to display multi-region wine appellations, consistent with provisions for domestic US wines.
United States Food Protection Plan: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a Food Protection Plan (FPP) that signals expanded authority for the FDA to increase surveillance of imported food products in the medium to long term, adding costs and additional layers of regulation to exporters such as Australia. The department is monitoring progress of the FPP and complementary legislation prepared for the US Congress to assess any impact on Australia’s agricultural trade with the US.
Canadian Developments
Changes to cheese compositional standards: Canada has implemented changes to cheese compositional standards that come into effect from 1 December 2008. The new standards could discriminate against Australia’s dairy exports to Canada, particularly milk protein concentrates (MPC), skim milk powders and whey protein concentrates, as they mandate an increased use of fluid milk in cheese production over powdered substitutes.
The Australian Government continues to voice concerns that the changes are unnecessary and a means of non-tariff protectionism and continues to monitor and assess the effect of the implementation of the regulations by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from December 2008.
European Developments
Russia – meat access: Russian authorities have temporarily suspended imports of meat from five Australian establishments (four kangaroo and one beef) following claims of microbial contamination. The majority of Australian meat exports to Russia remain unaffected.
The Australian Government is working closely with the kangaroo meat industry to gain re-approval of the establishments including provision of technical information and a joint review of the kangaroo meat production chain. The government is also negotiating an MoU on Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Technical Cooperation with Russian veterinary authorities. This is intended to put agricultural trade on a more stable basis.
Middle East Developments
MoUs in live animal trade: The Australian Government is working to finalise MoUs in the remaining Middle Eastern trading partners - namely Oman, Bahrain and Israel. Bahrain has indicated it may be willing to finalise an MoU with Australia, following consideration of newly developed contingency arrangements for the unloading of animals. For Oman, the MoU is currently awaiting Omani Ministerial agreement. The government is seeking a workshop with Israel to discuss alternatives to unloading animals in the event of any health concern, following advice that earlier proposals would contravene Israeli legislation.
Live trade to Egypt: On 9 May 2008, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, approved the recommencement of trade in cattle through a new ‘closed system’ facility at the Port of Ain Sokhna. Minister Burke and his Egyptian counterpart, Minister Abaza, have agreed on amendments to the MoU on the Handling and Slaughter of Australian Live Animals. A new order under the Australian Meat and Live-Stock Act 1997 is being drafted that will enable the trade to commence through the ‘closed system’ at Ain Sokhna. The resumption of trade in slaughter cattle to Egypt will be subject to a high level of scrutiny by the Australian Government and the live export industry.
Animal Welfare: On 11 February 2008, the World Society for the Protection of Animals commenced a campaign against the long distance transport of animals, with a key focus of banning the live sheep trade to the Middle East. The Australian Government continues to work with the live animal export industry and importing governments to identify and address areas of concern with animal handling and slaughter practices in key markets. Recent animal welfare projects in the Middle East and South East Asia include: education and training in animal welfare, awareness in transportation and feedlot management (targeted at people along the livestock chain in the importing country), the development and translation of training materials for local workers, facilitating improvements to government strategic planning, installing restraint boxes and repairing and replacing infrastructure to improve conditions for livestock.
South and South East Asia and the Pacific Developments
Indonesia - Regulations for offal imports: Regulations covering the import and control of meat and meat products remain in place, restricting trade in some Australian beef offal products to Indonesia. Australia has submitted a formal request for a food safety risk assessment to be conducted as the first step in reinstating trade in currently prohibited offal products. The Director General of Livestock Services has subsequently advised that a risk assessment will not be conducted. Following consultation with industry, the Australian Government has since followed up with comments to Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and is awaiting a response. The Australian Government will continue these efforts in an attempt to resolve this issue.
Indonesia - Draft regulations for food safety control of plant products: Indonesia has proposed draft regulations concerning food safety control for fresh foods of plant origin. The draft regulations include overly burdensome requirements for pre-export testing and certification of grains, fresh fruit and vegetables for freedom from, or compliance with maximum residue levels, for various chemicals. There are also Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point certification requirements, which would be problematic to address. Indonesia has indicated a willingness to recognise Australia’s production systems as providing an equivalent level of food safety protection to the proposed draft regulations. Indonesia issued a revised draft of the regulations in April 2008 and this is currently the subject of assessment by DAFF. Industry is being consulted on the revised draft prior to Australia’s response.
Philippines - Meat access: The Philippines published a new Administrative Order for the export of meat and meat products to the Philippines on 7 January 2007. To continue to export meat and meat products to the Philippines this order requires that all countries apply for formal approval and be audited by the Philippines. AQIS has submitted the required questionnaire, formally applied for systems approval and facilitated an in-country audit of Australia's system. The Philippines has advised that imports of meat and meat products from Australia will be able to continue under the current rules and regulations while they are in the process of conducting the systems approval.
Philippines - Meat and bone meal access: The Philippines has issued a Memorandum Order and guidelines lifting a ‘temporary’ ban imposed in 2001 on meat and bone meal from Australia. Exporters are currently working through the registration process prior to shipments commencing.
Thailand - Australia Joint Working Group on Agriculture: The Joint Working Group met in Canberra in August 2007. The agenda included: Thailand - Australia FTA implementation issues; a dialogue on agricultural policy, technical cooperation activities, bilateral cooperation and exchanges and a presentation by the Australian dairy industry on its interests in Thailand. A number of Australia’s concerns including transparency of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) administration for dairy products and administration of special agricultural safeguards will be followed up out-of-session. DAFF reported on agricultural cooperation projects with Thailand involving the department, AusAID and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. The Joint Working Group is next scheduled to meet in Thailand in 2009.
Thailand - Australia Expert Group on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Food Standards: The Expert Group on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Food Standards established under the Thailand - Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) met in Thailand on 28 August 2008 to review regulatory reforms, Australian and Thai market access requests for animal and plant products, and cooperation activities, and to update the group’s work plan for 2008-10.
Thailand - Plant Quarantine Regulations: New regulations for importation of prohibited, restricted and unprohibited plants and plant products came into force on 31 July 2007. DAFF had worked closely with industry to meet the Thai requirements and in January 2008 provided Thai authorities with the relevant technical information to minimise any impact on trade arising from the regulations. Thai authorities recently advised, in August 2008, that, after updated legal advice, consignments of prohibited plants and plant products from Australia would require a phytosanitary certificate with effect from 29 August 2008.
Malaysia - Access for Australian Halal meat: AQIS, in consultation with industry, has worked with Malaysian officials to develop a protocol for Halal slaughtering of cattle. In March 2006 a Malaysian delegation audited five establishments against the protocol with three gaining approval, effective from 6 April 2006. Malaysia conducted an audit of eight Australian establishments during the period 31 August to 7 September 2007. All eight establishments were subsequently approved. AQIS sent a technical delegation to Malaysia in May 2008 to discuss the issue of access for independent boning rooms.
Malaysia – Tariff Rate Quotas (TQR’s): Malaysia implemented TRQs on 18 agricultural tariff lines, covering dairy, pigs, pig meat, chickens, poultry meat and offal, eggs and cabbage in April 2008. Whilst not welcome, this move is not inconsistent with Malaysia’s WTO commitments and it appears that the TRQs are being administered through Malaysia’s existing import licensing system. DAFF continues to work with industry to determine the full impact of the TRQs on Australia’s trade interests.
Malaysia – Agricultural Cooperation Working Group: The Malaysia-Australia Agricultural Cooperation Working Group is an important forum for progressing agricultural trade and market access issues between Australia and Malaysia. It oversees and facilitates regular and comprehensive consultation and cooperation on agriculture, fisheries, agri-food, SPS and operational quarantine matters. The next meeting of the Working Group will be held in Australia in November 2008.
New Zealand – Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act court ruling: In December 2007, a NZ court ruled the Import Health Standard (IHS) for Australian honey (except those from Western Australia) was invalid, as the imports would not meet the requirements of the HSNO Act. This ruling highlighted an inconsistency between the NZ Biosecurity Act and the HSNO Act. Consequently, the NZ Government passed legislative amendments in April 2008 to resolve this inconsistency. The amended Biosecurity Act states that the Australian honey IHS will not be validated until an independent review panel has reviewed the scientific evidence in dispute in relation to that IHS. At the invitation of the NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, DAFF provided comments on 1 August 2008 on the draft terms of reference for the independent review of the honey IHS. Finalised terms of reference were provided to DAFF by NZ on 28 August 2008. It is anticipated that the review will be completed by late 2008/early 2009.
North Asia Developments
Taiwan
Plant Quarantine Requirements: The Australian Government is continuing to make every effort to restore access following the disruption to Australia’s fruit exports to Taiwan caused by the enactment, on 1 January 2006, of Taiwan’s amended plant quarantine requirements upgrading Queensland fruit fly from precautionary to prohibited status.
Australia has requested improved access to Taiwan for citrus (two and three degree cold disinfestation) and provided a submission and conducted a verification trial. Australia is seeking confirmation as to when the trade of citrus at three degrees can commence. Access for cherries and stonefruit is yet to be re-established despite repeated representations by the Australian Government and a commitment by Taiwan to progress this issue as quickly as possible once research requested from Australia had been submitted. Australia is still pressing for timely progress.
Taiwan has announced proposed changes to their import requirements likely to affect vegetable, seed and nursery stock exports, in particular the prohibition of carrots from Western Australia due to the burrowing nematode. DAFF has provided a submission and additional information to Taiwan to support recognition of pest free areas pending the enactment of the changes.
Japan
Horticulture market access: Japan is considering Australia’s submission for Tasmanian cherries to allow their export to Japan without fumigation, and will need to undertake a 30 day public consultation period on possible revised export arrangements. Following completion of the Tasmanian cherry application, Japan will consider Australia’s request for recognition of seasonal fruit fly freedom for the Greater Sunraysia, which could result in improved access for citrus to Japan in time for the next export season (June 2009). DAFF continues to encourage Japan to progress Australia’s new market access applications for table grapes and grapefruit. Australian and Japanese technical market access issues will be discussed at the annual plant bilateral discussions scheduled for 16-17 October 2008.
Japan’s maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals: DAFF, with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, continues to provide the Japanese Government with technical submissions in support of Australia’s maximum residue limits (MRLs). To date 170 technical submissions have been provided to Japan to assist its review of provisional MRLs in food and the establishment of additional MRLs in animal feed. Japanese MRLs that are consistent with Australia’s will facilitate trade. Australian meat, pork, grain, dairy, horticulture and fodder industries have provided funding to complete this work.
Animal health talks: The annual bilateral animal health consultations are scheduled for 14-15 October 2008.
Republic of Korea
Beef: Revised conditions for imports of US beef into Korea were released on 26 June 2008. Australian industry has expressed concerns about losing market share and the urgency to progress an FTA with Korea. The Korean Parliament recently passed new bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) legislation to ban imports of beef from animals over 30 months for at least 5 years, following a reported case of BSE in an exporting country. The Korean legislation does not directly affect Australia’s significant beef exports to this market due to our BSE free status.
Horticulture Market Access: Korea has finalised the preliminary pest risk assessment for the export of Tasmanian cherries and is assessing Australia’s requests for further improvements to market access for citrus. DAFF continues to encourage Korea to finalise the Tasmanian cherry application and to progress Australia’s new market access applications for table grapes and mainland cherries, and recognition of fruit fly freedom for the Greater Sunraysia.
China
Australia-China Agricultural Technical Cooperation (ATC) Program: Applications for the 2008-09 round have been assessed. The ATC Steering Group has approved seven new projects in the 2007-08 round, which will be announced shortly. Previous ATC projects have focused on: enhancing China’s capacity for processing superfine Australian wool; benchmarking China’s draft forest certification scheme; and improving dairy husbandry training.
Australia-China MoU on Cooperation in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters: The high level dialogue under the SPS MoU is expected to be held in the second half of 2008, after it was postponed due to China’s resource constraints. The SPS MoU and related technical bilateral meetings are designed to provide a forum for cooperative discussion in the area of animal, plant and human health, and to pursue market access issues.