THE federal government must “hold its nerve” in free trade negotiations with the European Union, industry body the National Farmers Federation says.
Negotiations began way back in 2018 but there was talk last month of a breakthrough, the need for closer trade ties heightened in a world that is seemingly more unstable.
However, closer trade ties have been hampered over the years by what Australians see as European protectionism.
National Farmers’ Federation president Hamish McIntyre said farmers want an agreement with the EU, but not one that cemented an uneven playing field.
“Agriculture and food have always been hard to negotiate in global trade, but that only increases the importance of landing a good outcome. Australia has a proud history of pushing the benefits of open trade not just as a pillar of our economy, but for the world,” Mr McIntyre said.
“We know the government is keen to land a deal. But we should not accept a subpar agreement for agriculture.”
He said Australia’s long-standing global leadership for free and open trade was a national strength and one that shouldn’t be weakened.
“We’ve pushed for open markets at both the bilateral and multilateral levels for decades. If we pull back now, we risk undermining that leadership position,” Mr McIntyre said.
“Any drift away from these principles now, and we set a precedent for future trade agreements that goes against the very standards we expect from others.
“We can’t expect liberalised access from other trading partners while accepting restrictive, protectionist terms from Europe.”
Cattle Australia senior adviser Chris Parker said the federal government and Minister Farrell had a strong record on trade negotiations and they expected “nothing less than this to continue”.
“Industry strongly supported the government walking away from a substandard EU agreement in their last term,” Dr Parker said.
“As an export-focused nation, Australia needs to advocate for equivalent, rules-based, free market access, as we have done successfully many times in the past.
“Red meat access must be substantial and without impediments. If the EU insists on having quotas, then the conditions relating to these quotas must be minimal.”
Canegrowers chief executive Dan Galligan said the EU’s own import needs showed there was room for a fair, modern agreement.
“Our position hasn’t changed — Queensland sugarcane growers want a deal with the EU, but not at any cost,” Mr Galligan said.
“If the choice is no deal or a deal that locks growers into disadvantage for a generation, we’ll take no deal every time.”
Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett said a free trade agreement with the EU posed a greater risk now than ever before.
“The EU exports more than 70,000 tonnes of subsidised dairy to Australia each year, yet Australia exports only 1,500 tonnes in return,” Mr Bennett said.
“This proposed agreement would fully open the Australian market for EU producers, but the EU is unwilling to reciprocate for Australian dairy.”
Ricegrowers Association of Australia president Peter Herrmann said they remained concerned that agriculture would “once again play second fiddle to other sectors under the EU Free Trade Agreement”.
“The RGA is calling on the Albanese Government to stand up to EU protectionism, given free market access for EU rice and other commodities in Australia,” Mr Herrmann said.
“Every tonne of rice that has access to premium markets like the EU, helps keep an Australian rice farm operational and people employed in Australian rice mills.”