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Trade

Achieving new export market opportunities and reducing trade distortions within global markets through the World Trade Organisation is the NFF's top trade priority - asserting agriculture must be at the heart of any trade agreement negotiated by Australia, with the Australian Government pursuing nothing less that full and open access for all Australian agricultural products.

Trade Reform

The NFF is dedicated to opening new export market opportunities for Australian agricultural produce and reducing distortions in global trade (ie. tariffs and quotas etc).

The best way to achieve meaningful, widespread market access for Australian farmers is by pursuing agricultural trade reform through the World Trade Organisation (WTO). NFF's number one strategic trade priority is to work with the Australian Government to maximise the opportunities and outcomes for farmers from an ambitious and comprehensive WTO Doha Round.

NFF believes that agriculture must be at the heart of any bilateral trade agreement being negotiated by Australia and that the Australian Government must seek full and open access for all Australian agricultural products.

• Preview Impact of KORUS on Australian Agriculture... and What an Australian-Korea FTA Could Mean (DOC 243.5 kb)

  In September 2007, the NFF released a new study - undertaken by the Centre for International Economics - looking at the consequences of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and concluding Australia must finalise its own deal with Korea...

• NFF Trade Policy Brief (PDF 6.2 Mb)

  The NFF's 2007 Trade Policy document - launched 28 May 2007 - covering engagement with the World Trade Organisation, the Doha Round and the need for genuine agricultural trade reform...

• Preview Position Paper: Doha Round of WTO Negotiations (PDF 41.4 kb)

  The NFF's position on the Doha Round of World Trade Organisation negotiations, ahead of the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December 2005...

Cairns Group Farm Leaders

The NFF chairs and provides the secretariat for the Cairns Group Farm Leaders - a forum of global farm organisations from the 18 'Cairns Group' nations.

Established in 1998, the Cairns Group Farm Leaders represent millions of farmers, dedicated to free trade.

Farmers recognise, more than most, the need to free-up international markets. The NFF, on behalf of the Cairns Group Farm Leaders, launched a campaign in March 2005 to drive agricultural trade reform in the World Trade Organisation. Most recently, in September 2011, NFF President Jock Laurie and General Manager - Policy, Charlie McElhone travelled to Saskatoon, Canada to progress the trade discussions.

Pictured is NFF's President and Chair of the Cairns Group Farm Leaders, Jock Laurie, with Charlie McElhone and the agricultural farm leaders.

More Information

See the Cairns Group Farm Leaders website.

• Preview Fact Sheet: Cairns Group Farm Leaders (PDF 24.8 kb)

  The CGFL's 2006 Fact Sheet outlining the 18 country make-up, role and priorities in pressing the case for global trade reform...

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