Page 21 - Tropic Magazine Issue 31

TROPIC • TRADE

Opening up

exports
The UK was Australia’s fifth-
FREE TRADE largest goods trading partner
markets has become particularly in 2020, worth $21.9 billion.
Australia’s new free trade deal apparent because we don’t want to rely on Major exports were gold, lead
with the United Kingdom opens the volatile Chinese market.” Ms Auvaa and wine.
up a lucrative market for Far said exporters of non-perishable food
North Queensland products. and beverages made in Far North
Queensland will seize the opportunity, its sights set on the UK. “We are working
Sugar and tea growers are among along with tropical fruit and even live on a UK-focused export strategy for
exporters welcoming Australia’s free seafood traders. “From Australia Nerada branded retail products,” said
trade agreement (FTA) with the you’ve got air freight connections that Managing Director Andrew Weavers.
United Kingdom. It’s the UK’s first major are generally 48 hours, two to three “This would include an impressive range
trade deal since Brexit. Director of supply days,” she said. “Live seafood exporters of retail black tea blends, organic tea
chain specialist Herli Group, Lilian Auvaa, will be open to looking at those trade variants and probiotic teas to begin with.
told Tropic it will help Australian exporters opportunities, but the flight connections In due course, we will consider looking at
spread their risk. “If we’ve learnt anything will be important. It’s tight, but it strategic supply partnerships for
from this COVID-19 situation it’s can happen.” Nerada Tea, grown on bulk tea.” For the sugarcane industry, the
not putting all our eggs in one basket,” the southern Atherton Tablelands, has FTA will provide immediate access to a
she said. “The need to diversify our been one of the first to announce it has duty-free quota of 80,000 tonnes, which
will increase 20,000 tonnes each year.
CANEGROWERS Chairman
Paul Schembri said it’s been almost
half a century since Australian growers
had this level of UK access. “This is a
significant boost on the 9,925 tonne
quota to the whole European Union prior
to Brexit,” he said. “Australia has well-
established markets in the Asia-Pacific
region and these will continue to be the
main focus of our sugar sales. A UK-FTA
will provide a welcome diversification for
our export-oriented industry.”
1

Crunch time

CARGO COST
“For Cairns, our regular cargo is highly
The Federal Government’s perishable and has to go on planes,”
freight flight subsidies are he said. “They’ve got a horrible shock
about to end. coming.

A support measure put in place by
the Australian Government to
keep global air links open during the It will be a massive impact
COVID-19 pandemic is expected to wind
up in October. The International Freight Ben Alexander,
Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) currently Trade and
supports three services that fly directly Investment
Queensland
from Cairns, including one to Singapore
and two to Hong Kong. In March, the
Government announced a $112.8-million “Live seafood exports such as lobster and
extension of the scheme to the end of coral trout are particularly exposed.”
September, however Tropic understands Mr Alexander said a Queensland
the funding pool won’t dry up until the international freight logistics team
following month. A Cairns-based officer has been established to investigate life
of Trade and Investment Queensland, after IFAM. It will provide submissions 2
Ben Alexander, said Far North to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk 1. CANEGROWERS
Queensland is particularly reliant on about whether there is a need for State 2. Herli Group
the scheme. Government assistance.

21 • tropicnow.com.au