The beef industry exports two-thirds of its production to more than 114 countries worldwide. Fair trade is critically important to the beef industry and hence is a key focus of the Cattle Council's work. The beef industry has invested considerable resources into liberalising the international beef trade, with beef exports alone worth $5 billion dollars.
Successful trade is a two-way street. If Australia wants to export beef we must also allow other countries to export beef into Australia, providing the right protocols are in place to protect our industry and our consumers.
It is the industry's role to ensure that the Australian Government is well briefed on beef trading priorities, regarding both multilaternal reform and regional bilateral agreements.
Multilateral reform
Cattle Council and the National Farmers’ Federation remain determined to achieve significant new export market opportunities and reduce distortions in global markets through agricultural trade reform in the World Trade Organisation as well as regional and bilateral trade negotiations.
Regional and bilateral agreements
Over recent years there has been a proliferation of regional and free trade agreements. Australia has already secured Free Trade Agreements with 10 member countries of the ASEAN, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America– the latter two providing immediate reductions in import barriers facing Australian beef. Cattle Council's current focus is on a beneficial outcome from FTA negotiations with key trading partners in North Asia, particularly Japan and Korea.
Read further about South Korea- Australia FTA and the beef industry
Read Cattle Council's 2009 Trade report
Read Cattle Council's 2010 Trade report (see page 20-21)
Cattle Council has a responsibility to ensure a sustainable beef industry now and into the future.
