FED:Farmers praise coalition on trade focus

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
FED:Farmers praise coalition on trade focus

CANBERRA, Aug 3 AAP - The national farming lobby has welcomed a coalition commitment
to renew efforts in global trade and return a dedicated trade minister in government.

Opposition trade spokesman Warren Truss on Tuesday told an Australian Institute of
Export function that Labor had treated the portfolio with "disdain".

The decision to give Foreign Minister Stephen Smith responsibility for trade in the
small re-shuffle forced by the ousting of Kevin Rudd showed where the portfolio was in
government priorities, he said.

Mr Truss announced a coalition government would increase funding to the Export Market
Development Grants scheme by $50 million - giving it a $200 million cap from July 1, 2011.

Under the scheme, exporters are reimbursed for the cost of promoting their businesses,
but Labor cuts had been an unfair disadvantage, he said.

"Furthermore, in government the coalition will examine the merits of removing the cap
altogether, provided payments could be kept in reasonable bounds," Mr Truss told the Brisbane
audience.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) said the commitment was reassuring for a sector
that exports more than 60 per cent of what it produces.

NFF president David Crombie said a dedicated trade minister was essential if Australia
was to foster existing partnerships and crack new markets.

"Some have suggested Australia should throw in the towel and carve out sensitive sectors,
such as agriculture, from future trade negotiations," he said.

"Such a weak-kneed approach ... would send a signal to our trading partners that they
can undermine Australia's $32 billion-a-year farm exports."

The coalition would also appoint an ambassador for trade reform to promote global trade
reform and re-establish the Trade Advisory Council abolished by Labor, Mr Truss said.

It would continue funding for the position of trade representative for agricultural
industries and establish two new positions, covering the manufacturing and service industries.

Mr Truss said the coalition's highest trade priority would be the Doha round of negotiations
towards freer world trade and it would vigorously pursue free trade agreements with China,
Japan, Malaysia, the Gulf Co-operation Council, South Korea and Indonesia.

AAP gd/sb/jel

KEYWORD: POLL10 TRADE UPDATE

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