Peak lobby group Australian Dairy Farmers estimates a deal would put $30 million in tariff savings a year into the pockets of industry members.
ADF president Noel Campbell said a China-Australia FTA that placed Australian dairy on level footing with New Zealand’s industry would provide benefits for “everyone”.
“A positive China FTA will help to bolster economic growth, provide jobs, encourage industry investment, and provide Chinese consumers with the clean, green and fresh dairy produce they deserve,” Mr Campbell said.
He said Australia’s “fresh and unparalleled quality” dairy products were something people “took for granted everyday”, but the dairy industry continued to be “significantly” commercially disadvantaged by tariffs which did not apply to New Zealand farmers.
The group hopes the campaign will be embraced by the public, along with the 6,400 Australian dairy farmers who were this morning milking 1.6 million cows nationwide.
Source: Weeklytimes
