The Australian's Global Food Forum - The Future of Australian Trade

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Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to their elders past, present and emerging.

Thank you, Quentin, for your contribution and it's a wonderful story and I wish you all the best into the future and your family.

I'm very pleased to be a member of the Albanese Labor Government.

When Anthony gave me this job three years ago, I didn't realise that this would be the best job that I've ever had in my life.

It gives me an opportunity to obviously speak with you today and deal with some of the really important economic issues that confront us right now and to look at some solutions to those problems.

Our exporters are essential to our economy because they deliver higher paying jobs and better bottom lines, and trade of course, is a great enabler and it builds ties between countries.

But it has not been an easy time for trading businesses - who have faced many challenges in recent years.

As is so often the case with Australians, the toughest of challenges bring out the strength of our character.

Australian producers and farmers are the most resilient and adaptable in the world.

We have the very best farmers, with the highest agricultural productivity on earth.

Most importantly – we have the best produce in the world.

Our food is clean, it’s nutritious, and enjoyed by millions of Australian families and billions of people in our region and beyond.

While we produce enough food to feed more than twice our population, we’re exposed to global supply and demand pressures, climate change and other risks.

Global uncertainty also continues to drive food price volatility, and this uncertainty will continue in the years ahead.

President Trump has made it clear that he wants to do things differently.

He is determined to implement his America first agenda – even if it impacts trusted trading partners along the way.

We saw this, with last week’s unjustified removal of Australia’s exemptions on steel and aluminium tariffs.

This was completely unprovoked, and unwarranted.

Our government had worked tirelessly to secure an exemption.

But it didn’t matter which country, which leader, or which Minister was making their case.

Noone secured an exception – not a single country.

Fortunately for us, Australian steel and aluminium exports to the US make up less than 0.2 per cent of our total exports.

And the US will continue to buy our steel and aluminium even if it means higher prices for their consumers and businesses.

We haven't given up securing an exemption, and we'll keep talking with the Americans. I talked with them overnight.

It's going to take some time to get these issues resolved.

But our government and myself in particular, will employ a calm, considered diplomacy to resolve all of our trade issues with the United States.

Most importantly, we will always act in Australia's national interest.

I’d like to thank the National Farmers Federation, including David and his team for working closely with me and our Minister for Agriculture, Minister Collins.

The NFF recognises the need for a calm, sensible approach to resolving these issues.

Our support for free and fair trade is not just for agriculture, but for all industries.

Our farmers, miners, manufacturers, small business and our workers rely on access to global markets.

International trade support one in four Australian jobs.

That’s why we need a united voice on trade from Australia’s exporting community and our politicians.

Because there will be more challenges ahead.

The President has said there will be further announcements on his America First Trade Policy.

But I can assure you, we will continue stand up for our industries and to stress the immense benefits of our existing trading relationship.

We will be unrelenting in making our case to the US, and working tirelessly for Australia.

And this is especially true for Australia’s agriculture sector, including our beef, wine and other agriculture exporters to the US.

We’ve got your back.

We will stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, to protect our trade interests – just like we did to resolve the trade issues with China.

The Albanese Government has a strong track record on trade, and has shown that calm, persistent and quiet diplomacy pays off.

When we came to Government, nearly three years ago, we were left with nearly $20 billion of trade impediments on our exports to China.

We were delighted to see that the final outstanding trade impediments on Australian lobsters were resolved last year – and trade has been booming since.

Our approach, working closely with industry, has seen the return of every single product into China.

We have also focussed on opening new markets for Australian businesses, producers and farmers.

Since coming to government, we’ve delivered 189 market access achievements for Australian agricultural exporters.

We are also working hard to realise the benefits from existing and new free trade agreements.

We’ve implemented a new trade deal with India and are making solid progress on negotiations for an upgraded agreement.

Australian businesses are also benefitting from the elimination of over 99 per cent of tariffs into the UK.

And our government signed a new trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, which will add $700 million in Australian exports to the middle east.

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Thank you and enjoy today’s forum.