Sir, – Australia and the UK have set the framework for what will be one of Australia’s most ambitious Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
While the ink dries on our UK agreement, our negotiations with the EU continue. Agriculture is of course part of any free trade agreement, but it should be clear that Australia’s exports do not pose a threat to the valuable UK- Ireland agricultural trade. Australia’s primary markets are our already established major markets in the Asia-Pacific region with our agricultural exports to the UK and EU driven exclusively by niche customer import requirements.
Concerns have also been aired about Australian food production standards and animal welfare but the case here could not be clearer. Australia’s biosecurity and welfare standards have been awarded the highest competency (level five) by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Australian standard for the hygienic production and transportation of meat products specifies animal welfare and are mandatory under Australian law.
Farmers, whether Australian, European, British, or Irish, care for their herds and flocks – a universal bond and responsibility which farmers share.
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Importantly, there are significant opportunities for Irish exporters in our potential agreement. Australia’s market is five times bigger than that of Ireland and with our large Irish diaspora, Irish businesses will find an already established and receptive market.
A recent report from Bord Bia shows growth of nearly 20 per cent in Irish spirits entering the Australia market in the last two years. Indeed, according to the most recent market access report from the Department of Agriculture, food and drink exports from Ireland to Australia are growing significantly. The figure in real terms has risen from €58.8 million in 2018 to €72.7 million in 2019 bringing jobs and money into Ireland.
The opportunity to export to Australia extends further to small and medium-sized businesses also and provides additional markets for Irish farmers to share the world-class produce which Ireland has established itself on. All of this is to be welcomed as the ties between our nations strengthen and bring us closer together.
Australia looks forward to concluding a comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU as soon as both sides are ready.
In the meantime the Australia/UK agreement stands as a great achievement, strengthening trade and acting as a blueprint for future agreements. – Yours, etc,
HON GARY GRAY AO,
Australian Ambassador
to Ireland,
St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.