Local businesses can hear how to access the benefits of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with North Asia during a seminar in Sale on 24 November, Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment Keith Pitt said today.
Federal Member for Gippsland and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester will host the free event, beginning at 9am at the Matador Motel, Sale.
Lachlan McKinnon, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Eels Australia, will also attend, discussing the positive impact of lower tariff barriers on his firm’s exports.
Since the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement and the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement entered into force, significant and ongoing tariff reductions have provided advantages for many Australian products and services exported to these markets.
Mr Pitt said a whole range of industries in the region could benefit.
“Australian products now receive preferential access to more than a billion potential customers in China, Japan and Korea thanks to provisions negotiated by the Australian Government,” Mr Pitt said.
“I encourage anyone in business locally to attend.”
As well as hearing from Mr Chester and Mr McKinnon, attendees will receive practical exporting advice from representatives of Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), TradeStart and AusIndustry.
Mr Chester said the region’s economy was well positioned to supply to the markets of North Asia.
“These FTAs have delivered real gains for our exporters,” he said.
“Tariffs on Australian beef entering China and Korea, for example, have fallen significantly and Australia is currently the only major beef producer with preferential access to Japan.
“There are plenty of advantages for other industries too and I want to give local businesses, especially small and medium-sized firms all the information they need to pursue them.”
Austrade and DFAT are running a series of North Asia FTA seminars across all Australian states and territories. Since March 2015, 85 seminars have been delivered around Australia.
Attendees can register for the Sale seminar at www.austrade.gov.au/ftaseminars or find out more information by calling Austrade on 13 28 78 or emailing fta@austrade.gov.au