Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 1:24:24 to 1:27:10
The committee examines the removal of tariffs on Tasmanian cherries, apples, pears, and Atlantic salmon, highlighting the potential for market diversification.
Topics: EU free trade agreement, Fisheries, Exports
Speakers: Cathy Raper, Speaker 6, Senator Raff Ciccone
producer of cherries, apples, pears and uh I understand it um under the that European tariffs up to 12% on fresh cherries would be eliminated. So could you outline some of the opportunities for this agreement creates for our fruit growers particularly including that stage removal of tariffs as well on apples and pears?
>> Um certainly um Senator. Um so yes indeed um the current EU tariff of 12% on Australian cherries will be eliminated on the entry into force of this agreement. On pears tariffs of up to 10.4% will be eliminated after 3 years following entry into force. And on apples um tariffs of up to 9% will be eliminated at 7 years um which is the the um term for the full implementation of the agreement.
>> Great. Um and reflecting the comprehensive nature of the agreement beyond horiculture also understand this removal of tariffs on Atlantic salmon uh aluminium zinc and wood products. So can you explain how the agreement improves market access uh particularly for things like Tasmanian seafood producers and our established manufacturing and minerals processing industries?
Um yes uh we also see um tariffs u removed um on several um seafood uh products. Uh importantly the um the tariff on Atlantic salmon of 2% will be eliminated uh under this agreement. Um in addition of other um uh important tariff eliminations also on seafood um uh 12% on prawns for example uh 11% on abalone.
>> Great. Um, and your department's figures show that Tasmania exported 4.6 billion in goods globally in 2025, but of that 4.6 billion, only 95 million went to the EU. So, I think does this suggest there's considerable scope for Tasmanian exporters to diversify now into that uh wealthy European market uh given the additional opportunities for agriculture, seafood, and manufacturing?
>> That's absolutely right. Um the I think as Mr. Mina said earlier, the European market has been largely closed to Australian exports of agricultural products due to their very high tariffs. Uh as a result, we've not been able to get our product into the EU market because it's not being competitive with other countries that have got preferential access. You know, you you referenced New Zealand there. Because this agreement will remove those um those tariff disadvantages, we would expect our exports to increase accordingly.
>> Thank you for that um insight. Um that sounds like a pretty good deal to me, chair. So, I'm done.
>> You're sold. Good. All right. Uh, I'll see if the coalition have any other questions. Okay. Can you have other