Eight years of free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union have been finalised which sees varying results for South West producers.
The wine sector features heavily in the agreements, with wine import and export tariffs scrapped immediately.
While this serves as a win for exporters, with their product becoming cheaper and ultimately more attractive in the European market, it could have the inverse effect on the local market, with European wines becoming cheaper, forcing greater competition for Australian producers.
Australian prosecco producers have also been dealt an international blow.
The term prosecco will no longer appear on Australian export labels after a 10-year phase out period, with the agreement gatekeeping the term for Italian producers, though the name will be retained for sales in the domestic market.
Domestic red meat producers have been left fuming after the agreement allowed for just 30,600 tonnes of beef to be exported tariff-free, with industry advocates calling for at least 50,000 to stay in line with competitors.
Lamb and goat has also been limited to 25,000 tonnes despite the industry calling for more than 67,000 tariff-free tonnes.
New Zealand is able to export more than 163,000 tonnes in comparison.
https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/mixed-results-for-south-west-producers-as-austalia-european-union-free-trade-agreement-is-finalised-c-22045933
