Growing trade and investment at Beef Australia 2018

An international delegation is exploring trade and investment opportunities at Beef Australia 2018.

The national beef expo, held in Rockhampton every three years, showcases Australian capability and opportunities to invest and partner across both northern and southern Australian cattle production supply chains.

Australia's beef exports were worth $7.1 billion in 2016-17. Increasing these exports will create new Australian jobs and drive economic growth.

The Turnbull Coalition Government is working to grow Australia's exports, such as beef, as part of our plan for a stronger economy through trade agreements.

The trade agreements the Coalition has delivered have reduced or eliminated tariffs, driving Australian beef exports. According to Meat and Livestock Australia, the benefits of the trade agreements with Korea (KAFTA), Japan (JAEPA) and China (ChAFTA) are expected to be worth an additional $20 billion to the Australian red meat and livestock industry over the next 20 years.

The recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11) and the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) will offer further improvements. In 2016-17, total beef exports to the TPP-11 countries were valued at $2.6 billion.

The delegation, hosted by Austrade, includes representatives from major trading partners such as China, the United States and emerging markets like Vietnam, Turkey, Pakistan and Latin America.

They are meeting with Australian producers, suppliers and ag-tech companies, undertaking site visits to various locations across the beef supply chain in New South Wales and Victoria, including properties, processing plants and food manufacturing centres and touring the SMART Farm Innovation Centre at the University of New England.

Australia has a growing reputation for innovation and Beef Australia 2018 will showcase new technology across a range of applications, including herd management, supply chain traceability, animal health and remote livestock monitoring.