The NSW Nationals stand with farmers in opposing China’s additional 55 per cent tariff on Australian beef imports.
NSW Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Regional NSW and Trade Gurmesh Singh said Chris Minns needs to pick up the phone to his good mate Anthony Albanese to ensure Canberra are fighting hard for our beef industry.
“China is NSW’s largest beef export market, purchasing close to $900 million worth of our beef each year and accounting for around one-third of our state’s beef export value,” Mr Singh said.
“While trade negotiations are a federal responsibility, Chris Minns and his Ministers can’t leave our regions and regional producers without a voice on yet another issue.”
The extra duty came into effect on Saturday after Australia exhausted its 205,000-tonne annual quota with China.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Brendan Moylan said NSW farmers work hard to produce the best beef in the world.
“They don’t want sympathy. They need Canberra to fix the problem, and the Minns Labor Government should be demanding exactly that,” Mr Moylan said.
The NSW beef industry contributes almost $4 billion to the state economy and supports thousands of jobs.
Mr Moylan said any disruption to that market has the potential to flow through the supply chain and place downward pressure on cattle prices across regional NSW.
“The Minns Labor Government should be using every avenue available to make sure Canberra understands what is at stake for regional communities,” Mr Moylan said.
