“We should never forget our biggest agricultural industries are built on Free Trade Agreements.”

This was a key message from Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor at a seminar in Yass for exporters and potential exporters. Mr Taylor, Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, trade and export industry delegates, addressed more than 80 business people in an energetic forum on Wednesday 6 May, with discussion focused on export success stories from the region and the opportunities of new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

“We built these surrounding regions on the wool industry, on the back of a trade agreement with the UK. We’re in a new era now and the FTAs with Korea, Japan and China, are just the beginning. Exporters know as well as an open door, they need minimum bureaucracy and maximum impact for their product,” Angus Taylor said.

In delivering the keynote address, Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said niche products would be in demand.

“There are fantastic opportunities out there for the 14,000 small businesses in the Hume electorate – the grain growers, horticulturalists, cherry growers, beef producers, wine and oil makers, those involved in the services sector, including artists of all kinds -  we just have to go out and win them,” Mr Billson said.

Ted and Lynne Philpott from York Foods at Goulburn, who export wagyu oil into Germany and Singapore, said they had overcome a lot of hurdles to get their product into Europe. “It takes more time, more effort and more money than you think. We’ve stuck with it and now we’re doing okay,” Mr Philpott said.

Tim Kirk from Clonakilla Wines at Murrumbateman - who exports into the US, Asia and parts of Europe - said FTAs were a positive step to allow producers to “have a proper crack at it”. “I really don’t expect governments to do our marketing for us. Australia is the home to agricultural produce that, in sheer quality terms, is the equal of anything in the world. It is our job as producers to communicate that exciting news effectively.”

Speaking to beef producers, DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) spokesman Michael Growder said following two tarrif cuts this year - in January and April - on Australian beef into Japan, tariffs were now one third lower for Australian beef into Japan than for beef producers in the United States. “We have a first mover advantage right now. We have one to two years before the US catches up,” he said.

Mr Taylor said he was delighted with the strong turnout to the forum and keen to offer ongoing assistance to businesses looking to break into export markets.

Caption: Angus Taylor, Small Business Minister Bruce Billson and Ted and Lynne Philpott from Goulburn who export wagyu oil into Germany and Singapore.