Joint media releases
Trade Minister Mark Vaile and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry, Warren Truss
18 December 2001June 2002
Government and Industry Work Together to Progress Agricultural
Trade
Agriculture industry leaders and the Federal Government have vowed
to continue their close working relationships in pursuit of freer
agricultural trade, Trade Minister Mark Vaile and Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss said today.
Speaking after today’s meeting of the Agricultural Trade Consultative
Group (ATCG) in Canberra, the Ministers agreed that continued consultation
between Government and industry was vital to ensure successful and
meaningful outcomes on issues such as the new round of World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations, and proposed free trade agreements.
Mr Vaile said the Coalition Government was pragmatic about agricultural
trade.
“In particular, the Australian Government is working hard to promote
international agricultural trade reform, especially through our leadership
of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations,” Mr Vaile said.
“Our continued close collaboration with Australian agricultural industries
will be essential as WTO negotiations intensify and progress is made
on a number of proposed bilateral free trade agreements.”
Mr Truss said the recent passage of the US Farm Bill makes it more
important than ever for Australia to continue building pressure for
reform of international agriculture.
“We export about two-thirds of our agricultural production,” Mr Truss
said.
“Our population is simply not large enough to consume all of the
food and fibre our farmers produce and so we must continue to push
for freer global trade to open new markets.”
The Group discussed a number of issues affecting Australian agriculture
and the international trade policy environment, including the recently
passed US Farm Bill, the Doha Round of WTO negotiations and the new
National Food Industry Strategy.
The ATCG was established to assist consultation on trade issues between
Ministers and peak bodies representing exporters of agricultural and
food products.
Media Contact: Mark Croxford (Minister Vaile) 02 6277 7420
/ Tim Langmead (Minister Truss) 02 6277 7520
Local Date:
Thursday, 17-May-2012 16:51:53 EST
