Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said agricultural and food exporters across the Parkes Electorate will enjoy even more benefits from the Japan–Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) from 1 April, with the latest round of tariff cuts taking effect.
Mr Coulton said local exporters of beef, dairy, wine, seafood, cereals and horticulture products—and the farmers who supply them—would benefit from these new tariff cuts and quota volume increases.
“This round of tariff cuts shows the JAEPA we secured is continuing to deliver real, tangible benefits for farmers and exporters across the Parkes Electorate,” he said.
“Further cuts from today include honey reducing by a further 2.3 per cent, Southern Bluefin tuna by a further 0.4 per cent and table grapes by a further 1.6 per cent, chilled beef by 0.6 per cent, oranges 1.4 per cent, mandarins by 1 per cent and grated cheese by 1.2 per cent with a quota volume increase of 80 tonnes. Tariffs on bottled and sparkling wine are being eliminated over seven years, and have already halved since JAEPA entered into force.
“Japan has been a leading market for Australia’s high quality and safe agriculture, food, fishery and forestry product exports for several decades.
“By securing the JAEPA we have strengthened this relationship, with Japan Australia’s second largest market in 2016 for agricultural, fisheries and forestry products—with $4.7 billion worth of trade.”
There has been strong growth across a range of commodities such as:
• Beef offal: Australia exported over $237 million in 2016 (up 16 per cent compared with $204 million in 2015). Beef offal has benefited from reduced in-quota tariffs.
• Table grapes: Table grape exports grew from $6.5 million in 2015 to $30.7 million in 2016 (up by 472 per cent). The seasonal tariffs on fresh table grapes under JAEPA reduced from 7.8 per cent to 4.9 per cent in April 2016, and now down to 3.9 per cent on 1 April 2017.
• Macadamias: Macadamia exports grew to over $29.7 million in 2016, compared with $23.7 million in 2015 (up 25 per cent in value). The tariff on macadamias of 5 per cent was eliminated on entry into force.
• Southern Bluefin Tuna: In 2016, Australia exported $125 million of Southern Bluefin tuna, up 7 per cent by value compared with 2015 when exports were $116 million. The tariff on Southern Bluefin tuna was reduced from 3.5 per cent to 3.1 per cent in April 2016. Today, the tariff has been further reduced to 2.7 per cent.
• Honey: Honey exports grew from $890,000 in 2015 to $1.3 million in 2016 (up by 46 per cent). The tariff on honey was reduced from 20.9 per cent to 18.5 per cent in April 2016. Today the tariff has been further reduced to 16.2 per cent.
“Our farmers and our agricultural produce are the best in the world,” Mr Coulton said.
“Trade deals help put our farmers in a strong position to take advantage of global demand for quality agrifood products
“They give Australian exporters an important advantage over international competitors who did not have agreements in place, and level the playing field with those who do.”
For more overall information on the Japan–Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, visit dfat.gov.au/jaepa.
For more information on how to make sure your application for export permit is correct, visit the JAEPA page at agriculture.gov.au