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Farmers ready to accept FTA
22 Apr 2004
The National Farmers' Federation will support the proposed Australia-US free trade agreement despite disappointment over the deals for sugar and beef producers. The NFF's submission to the FTA inquiry is expected to support the proposal, which will immediately lift two-thirds of the tariffs imposed on Australian agricultural producers.
The NFF's CEO Anna Cronin said that, on balance, the organisation believes the FTA should be accepted.
The biggest winner will be the dairy industry, whose annual quota will be trebled immediately and increased by 5 per cent each following year. Australia's horticulture and grains industries would also get much greater access to the US market. The sugar industry will get "absolutely nothing", Ms Cronin said.
The Cattle Council of Australia said beef farmers will put a submission to the FTA inquiry reflecting their disappointment. Meat and Livestock Australia broadly supports the FTA but said also the relatively low increase in access for beef was "clearly disappointing".
Australian Financial Review, 22/4/04.
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