Australia-China agreement to boost agricultural opportunities

Australia and China have signed a new agriculture agreement during the first visit to Australia by a Chinese Agriculture Minister. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Joe Ludwig, said the relationship between Australia and China’s agriculture sectors will continue to develop and the visit by Minister Han Changfu was positive. “The agricultural trade relationship with China is our most valuable, worth about $7 billion. Minister Han is visiting Australia for the Joint Agricultural Commission, a major forum for discussing agricultural trade, policies and co-operation activities with the People’s Republic of China,” Minister Ludwig said. The new cooperation arrangement, outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding, will expand current program activities and focus on science and technology, two–way investment and trade.
 
During his visit, Minister Han met with a Queensland-based red meat export establishment, after China’s decision to accredit 28 cold store facilities and four red meat plants around the country, as the first step in a system– wide approach to approval of meat storage facilities for shipping. The deal means Australian exporters can save money by consolidating large loads of meat for shipping. Minister Han also visited a Queensland seafood exporter and a beef cattle property near Brisbane.
 
In 2011–12, the total value of Australian agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports to China was about $7 billion, up from $3.4 billion in 2009–10, with Australia importing $1.5 billion worth of agricultural imports from China (an increase of 8.2 per cent from the previous year).
 
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