Tuesday, February 10, 2004

They Got/We Got


They Got:

All U.S. agricultural exports to Australia, totaling more than $400 million, will receive immediate duty-free access.

Key agricultural products that will benefit from immediate tariff elimination include:

* Processed food products such as soups, food preparation and bakery products.
* Soybeans and oilseeds products.
* Fresh and processed fruits, vegetables and nuts, including: dried onions, fruit and vegetable juices, dried plums, potatoes, almonds, tomatoes, cherries, raisins, olives, fresh grapes, sweet corn, frozen strawberries, and walnuts.
* With resolution of technical issues expected in the near future, pork products.
* Alcoholic beverages, including distilled spirits.
[My emphasis]
Office of the United States Trade Representative Free Trade "Down Under" - Summary of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PDF Format)


We Got:

* The AUSFTA will give Australian agriculture a significant boost in the US market.

* Two thirds of all agricultural tariffs - including in important commodities such as lamb, sheep meat and horticultural products, will be eliminated immediately - a further 9 per cent of tariffs will be cut to zero within four years.

* The AUSFTA provides greater access to the US market for two of Australia's key agricultural export industries, beef and dairy.

* Australia's sugar access remains unchanged at 87,000 tonnes per annum.
[My emphasis again]


According to Gerard Henderson, this makes us the envy of the world.

No comments: