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Posted by David Sexton
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6 January, 2026
INDUSTRY body the National Farmers Federation has urged the federal government to reject any "sub par" free trade agreement proposals with the European Union.
NFF president Hamish McIntyre said global trade uncertainty was already impacting the sector's bottom line.
“China’s newly announced 55% (post-quota) tariff on beef exports will undoubtedly impact the cattle industry, with estimates it could cost the sector more than $1 billion,” Mr McIntyre said.
“In the United States, Australia's largest beef export market, trade policy volatility is still causing underlying uncertainty, not just in that market, but across broader global trading frameworks.”
Mr McIntyre said the emergence of these issues only increased the need to achieve a strong outcome on the EU FTA.
“There are clearly many trade factors out of Australia’s control in global trade, but one thing the Australian Government has absolute control over is the deal it chooses to accept from the EU,” he said.
“The way for Australia to respond to trade headwinds is by doubling down on strong, principles-based leadership, as opposed to accepting a subpar deal for important industries such as agriculture.”
Mr McIntyre said if Australia drifted from the principles of open and liberalised trade, it would set a precedent that would ultimately be detrimental, as well as going against the standards they expected expect from others in forums such as at the World Trade Organisation and Cairns Group.
“While we can’t control other nations’ policies, we do have control over the trade deals we accept,” he said.
“Australian negotiators must continue to push for materially improved offers for Australian agriculture, in particular for Australian red meat, dairy, sugar and rice producers.”
He said EU nation states were more than willing to push back on substandard deals.
“Australian agriculture exports 80% of the food and fibre it produces, and hits to our international competitiveness have a direct impact on the sector’s, and nation’s, productivity,” Mr McIntyre said.
