Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 7:26:03 to 7:32:01
The committee discusses ongoing negotiations for the EU Free Trade Agreement, focusing on agricultural market access and the impact of European subsidies. Officials explain the level of industry consultation and the current status of the offer.
Topics: EU free trade agreement, Exports
Speakers: Speaker 21, Speaker 19, Uh The, Tina Hutcherson, Ms. Tina Hutcherson
constitutes a better offer for
Australian agriculture? >> Thank you very much, Senator. Um, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the lead on the EU FTA negotiation. So, it is um uh there's limited things the department could say about that. I'll just check with my colleague
whether there's anything to add to that. >> Uh that's correct, Senator. Um there's not a lot we can say in terms of the negotiations are ongoing. They're ongoing. Uh I think we heard evidence this morning that up to and including this week. Um and given negotiations are ongoing. Uh I direct that question to uh our colleagues at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Uh but we remain uh closely in touch um with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade including the negotiators as well as our representative in Brussels Post and Agriculture Representative in Brussels Post uh on the EU FTA.
>> Okay. Well, I really hope so because today we've heard of DQ um running roughshod over agricultural interests. Uh I I hope that the um Department of Trade um doesn't take the same sort of line and length and they're a bit more sympathetic to Australian farming interests than than some of our other departments are. Are you getting feedback from uh industry peak bodies on
the EU deal? >> Uh Senator, yes, we regularly speak to industry um including on free trade agreements. >> What are their views? Um we've heard a range of views um uh but because on uh because negotiations are ongoing don't want to go into the specifics. Some of them have been provided for example in confidence um but very much we remain engaged in talking to industry uh noting the department of foreign affairs and trade are the lead on trade negotiations.
>> Yes, thank you. You did say that Mr. Campbell. So, have members of the Australian agricultural industry peak bodies been provided with details of the current offer by the EU? Uh the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade held a uh a industry briefing with agriculture stakeholders last Friday um to provide details um of what they could say u which was largely that negotiations continue uh in Brussels and they'll be continuing this week in
Brussels. >> All right. In 2023, members of the Australian agricultural industry were invited to accompany the government on the sidelines of negotiations. Has this occurred in the most recent round of negotiations?
>> Uh, Senator, I would kind of defer to our DEFAT colleagues, but uh this question was raised at the industry webinar. Um, but it was uh it was stated that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would remain in touch with agricultural negotiators, but they would not be outside the room like they were
in 2023. Do you know why they're
senator? >> I would also just jump in and say that it when we walked away in 2023, it was largely because we wanted to maintain a really good deal, especially for the agriculture sector, and our position
hasn't changed either. >> Okay. Well, that's really heartening. Thank you, Minister, because that's the the industries raised concerns around the bringing forward of subsidies >> uh reportedly nearly uh $80 billion worth to secure domestic support from EU nations for the recent trade deal with the South Americans. So the NFF recently stated that the risk for Australia is being offered limited access in the deal. But while our European competitors might receive billions more in subsidies in order to get the support for both it and the recently announced EU India FTA, the NFF says this would represent a double blow for Australian farming families. >> These concerns legitimate with respect to the competitive position of Australian producers in global markets.
From our perspective, Senator, we will only go for a deal that will be fair uh for our sector and for the agriculture sector in particular, but for both countries. Uh I have and I've certainly seen the work that uh Senator Farrell has done in terms of the EU, especially also in including uh First Nations uh people and businesses uh through the EU deal as well in terms of uh the UAE. uh so I know that uh we will continue to push for the rights of the agriculture in terms of our international standing.
>> I think the point that industry is making is even if you sign this better access but if the meantime EU farmers have received $80 billion of subsidies um it's going to be impossible for Australian farmers to compete with that isn't it? It will be a a win in on paper
only. Well, we will continue to push to make sure that our farmers have a fair outcome in whatever trade deal we make.
>> All right. Would it be reasonable to think that the same or better deal will be uh something like what Canada or Brazil got with the EU?
>> I'll hand over to Mr. Campbell. >> Uh Senator, because negotiations are ongoing um and because they are led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade um I'd be unable to comment on
that. All right. Well, I am I am really concerned today. We've just had a series of issues where the agricultural department has been left out of consultation, whether it be the EPBC changes um uh whether it be um uh emissions reductions policies and now trade. All of it is apparently outside of the department's remitt and um it's won't be providing industry groups who are listening today with much comfort I'm afraid but um I appreciate that you're limited in what you can say.