Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, Kevin Hogan has welcomed news that negotiations have concluded on the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Mr Hogan said The Nationals understand the importance and benefit of open and free trade.
“When we came into government in 2013 our goods and services covered by a free trade agreement was at 25 percent and by 2022 it had gone to 80 per cent including agreements with the UK and India.”
“We ratified the Regional Comprehensive and Economic Partnership – the world’s largest free trade agreement – and signed FTAs with Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Peru, and Indonesia as well as regional agreements across the Indo-Pacific including the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific.”
“It is good to see a Labor Government finally getting a new trade agreement across the line.
“The irony is not lost on us however that this announcement comes just one week after the National Ag Rally out the front of Parliament House, led by WA sheep farmers to protest the government’s decision to phase out live exports of sheep by sea.
“Live sheep are a key commodity for the UAE, who import for religious, cultural, and social reasons. This deal with the UAE could have supported the industry for years to come yet instead they have turned their backs on our farmers and left them out in the cold.”
