As an export-orientated industry, effective trade agreements are critical for the Australian grain industry. In 2021-22, Australia exported a record of 65.7 million tonnes of grains, oilseeds and pulses.
Wheat alone was Australia’s sixth largest export. It is vital that commercially meaningful agricultural market access is at the centre of trade negotiations. Australian growers are some of the least subsidised in the world, relying on a free and open trading environment to ensure ongoing profitability and sustainable growth.
With increasing global trade protectionism and negotiations at the World Trade Organization in a state of deadlock, free trade agreements are the key mechanism to removing trade barriers and increasing market access.
Capturing the ongoing benefits of liberalising trade will require Australia’s trade negotiations to continue to focus on traditional barriers, such as tariffs and tariff‑rate quotas, along with broader technical market access and multilateral engagement.