China Free Trade Deal
‘Opportunity For Region’

June 17, 2015

The Federal Government’s free trade deals with China, Japan and Korea have opened up business opportunities for the South Burnett, Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said on Wednesday.

Mr Scott met with South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell at Parliament House and spoke to them about how the region could best take advantage of the historic trade agreements.

“Whether its pork, peanuts, navy beans, wine and everything in-between – the South Burnett is well positioned to make the most of these trade agreements, especially with the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport only about two hours’ drive away,” Mr Scott said.

“I sit on the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade joint standing committee and I’m also the Trade sub-committee chairman so I know what these milestone agreements mean, especially for the South Burnett.

“The South Burnett is a hub of agricultural and meat processing activity and I’m committed to the electorate getting the most out of these agreements.”

Mr Scott said the Federal Government was also investigating the potential of a trade agreement with the Middle East.

“Any new conversations with trading partners is great for growth and job creation,” Mr Scott said.

“We already have bilateral trade and investment, with the Middle East importing more Australian food by value when compared to China so this is a significant trade relationship.”

 The future of the South Burnett Private Hospital, in Kingaroy, was also discussed during Mr Scott’s meeting with Cr Kratzmann and Cr Campbell.

“I’m very supporting of what the South Burnett Council is doing to secure the future of the hospital and I will do all that I can to assist,” he said.

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What It Means

Beef

• The Dalby Saleyards is the second largest in Queensland – behind Roma – selling more than 200,000 head of cattle yearly

• Australian beef exports to China set new records in 2013-14, totalling 161,000 tonnes worth $787 million

• Elimination of tariffs on beef imports (currently ranging from 12–25 per cent) within nine years

Dairy

• China is Australia’s largest market for dairy exports. This market is expanding rapidly with exports almost doubling recently, to more than $443 million in 2013-14

• Elimination of the 15 per cent on infant formula within four years

• Elimination of the 15 per cent tariff on liquid milk within nine years

• Elimination of the 10 – 15 per cent tariff on cheese, butter and yogurt within nine years

• Elimination of the 10% tariff on milk powders within 11 years.

Sheep and Goat Meat

• In 2013-14, Australian exports to China were worth $446 million (114,000 tonnes), up 83 per cent  on 2012-13 exports at $243 million

• Elimination of the tariffs on sheep meat (currently ranging from 12–23 per cent) within eight years

• Elimination of the 20 per cent tariff on goat meat within eight years

Pork

• Tariffs of up to 20 per cent on pork eliminated within four years

Wine

• China’s wine import market is growing dramatically, more than doubling in size since 2009-10 to be worth more than $1.6 billion in 2013-14

• Tariffs of 14–20 oer cent on Australian wine imports will be eliminated within four years

Horticulture

• China is a rapidly growing market for Australian horticultural products, with exports worth $66 million in 2013-14 – up from $10 million in 2010-11.

• Elimination of the 10–25 per cent tariff on nuts within four years

• Elimination of the 11–30 per cent tariff on citrus fruits within eight years

• Elimination of the 10–30 per cent tariff on all other fruit within four years

• Elimination of the 10–13 per cent tariff on all fresh vegetables within four years

Barley, Sorghum and Other Grains

• In 2013-14, barley exports were worth more than $1 billion, up more than 350 per cent since 2008-09, while sorghum exports were worth $214 million

• Immediate elimination of the 3 per cent tariff on barley and 2 per cent tariff on sorghum

• Elimination, over  four years, of the 15 per cent tariff on cotton seed – exports worth $75 million in 2012-13 and $36 million in 2013-14

• Elimination of the 10 per cent tariff on malt and wheat gluten within four years

[Source: Maranoa Electorate Office]

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