International

A key panel session at the Digital Agrifood Summit exploring Denmark's proposed carbon tax on agriculture has highlighted the need to avoid simplistic comparisons between Australian and European models. GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the summit, attended by leaders across agriculture, technology, and policy, prompted robust discussion about the relevance and risks of similar mechanisms in the Australian context.

Pakistan has approved market access for Genetically Modified (GM) canola from Australia. Australia is a trusted and reliable supplier of canola to Pakistan, with non-GM canola exports valued at $506 million in the last financial year – making Pakistan one of Australia’s top markets for canola. 

Whether the risks posed by imports from Australia's trading partners are being sufficiently assessed and addressed, whether we really need to or should import certain products at all, and whether Australia is becoming complacent, resigned, or courting disaster for political Brownie points - such questions are being asked more often. ... This last week, Australia's biosecurity around beef and banana imports was called into question by David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister. ARR.News sought a response from Julie Collins, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ...

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering new opportunities for Australia’s blueberry producers with a new agreement securing market access to export the fruit to Vietnam, with trade expected to be worth approximately $22 million over 5 years. The agreement, which came into effect this week, is another major win for Australian producers and will also create access to Vietnamese pomelos for Australian consumers.

Omika Upadhayay. Being a recent migrant myself, hailing from Nepal, I’ve had more than a little to do with the Australian immigration system ... One way farmers are cutting through this bureaucratic headache is by working with an approved employment provider and sourcing workers through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.

The travels of former Donald resident, Mary Raynes, have so far also included meetings in Puebla with Heineken and Central Altiplano Maltería, Mexico ... Australia has been right in the brew of it, supplying on average 61 per cent, up to 85 per cent of Mexico's total malting barley imports.

The Sculpture by the Sea project, incorporating the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, was the recent recipient of the prestigious Gratias Agit award in Prague. Founding CEO and artistic director, David Handley, travelled to Prague as a guest of the Czech government to receive the award on behalf of Sculpture by the Sea.

NSW Farmers have backed calls for an independent scientific panel to review federal authorities’ decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. NSW Farmers’ President Xavier Martin said there was no room for error when it came to biosecurity and said a review was vital to ensure confidence that US beef imports would comply with Australia’s biosecurity and food safety standards.

Queensland's central financing authority, Queensland Treasury Corporation has issued a new EUR 1.25 billion (~AUD 2.15 billion) benchmark bond, receiving significant demand with orders more than seven times the issuance amount ... Treasurer David Janetzki said with global uncertainty at an all-time high, the Crisafulli Government had re-established Queensland as a low-risk investment option.

US investor group withdraws from deal to purchase iconic NSW farmland aggregation. Parties are remaining tight-lipped following reports of the $780 million deal to sell some of the Riverina's most well-known properties.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) expresses its profound disappointment in the United States’ decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all Australian exports. The United States and Australia have a deep and multifaceted agricultural relationship underpinned by the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, which sees zero tariffs applied to two-way trade between our nations.

Omika Upadhayay. India, the world’s most overlooked economic success story, is on the cusp of a transformation that could have profound implications for Western Australia’s sheep industry.

As the U.S. escalates tariffs on key trading partners like China, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, these nations are retaliating strategically—targeting Trump’s biggest supporters and one of the most powerful lobbying forces in America: its farmers.

A newly published ABARES Insights report has emphasised concerns around non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and their sharp increase in recent years.

David Jochinke. The National Farmers' Federation notes reports that Australian steel and aluminium exports to the United States will be subject to a 25 per cent tariff. The NFF supports a considered and measured approach being taken as officials work through this and any future developments.

Donald Trump’s Senior Counsel for Trade and Manufacturing, Peter Navarro, has a fantasy in his mind about the dimension of Australia’s exports of aluminium, or aluminum, as he would call it ... Mr. Navarro does not mention that Alcoa Australia, which he singles out in his article, is actually owned by its parent, a US company – Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA; ASX: AAI), headquartered in Pittsburgh USA.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government will lead a high-powered industry delegation to the Indo-Pacific in March to strengthen defence partnerships and expand economic opportunities for the Northern Territory. This week-long strategic mission, led by DefenceNT, will deepen relationships with US defence and defence contractors while securing new opportunities for the Territory’s industry.

Kookaburra read with astonishment that the Treasurer, our own Sonny Jim, has headed off to the USA to ask for tariff concessions whilst spruiking the possibility of Australian super funds applying some of their $US2.8 trillion in holdings to investment in US infrastructure.

The advent of the latest elected monarch of the United States of America, one Donald J. Trump, whose main expertise, apart from top rating television shows, is property development perhaps provides Australia with the opportunity to finally make a decent deal with its great friend and ally, Uncle Sam.

The decision by the Australian Government to include the Victorian Goldfields on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List after 35 years of advocacy, creates significant tourism, economic development and community benefits for a large part of regional Victoria covering 15 Local Council areas and their Visitor Economy Partnership regions.

The opening statement by National Farmers’ Federation General Manager of Economics and Trade, Chris Young to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, holding a public hearing on the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (UAE CEPA).