Mr SETTER - 1997-04-24
The minister would be aware of the potential markets that countries such as Thailand represent to our primary producers, especially mango growers. However, import duties have long been a major barrier to the Territory industry gaining a foothold in these markets. Has he had any success in getting the issue of agricultural tariffs on the bilateral trade agenda?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed, I believe I have been successful. Early this year, I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Hon Tim Fischer, in relation to access to the Thai mango market. It may be of interest to members to note that Thailand produces something like 600 000 t of mangoes per annum as opposed to an Australian production of about 40 000 t per annum. However, Thailand has a different season. The Thai market could prove potentially very lucrative for Northern Territory mangoes in that, in the out-of-season period in Thailand, somewhere between $6 and $7 a kilo can be obtained for mangoes. I was encouraged by the fact that the United States has negotiated a reduction in tariffs on apples, from 54% to 10%. As a result of that, in one year it exported 1.5 million cases of apples to Thailand. I think we could expect a similar increase in market penetration of Australian mangoes into Thailand, given similar tariff imposts.
The Deputy Prime Minister has written back to me. He has been able to have the issue of Australian mangoes into Thailand placed on the trade agenda. In fact, he raised it with the Thai Ministers for Commerce and Foreign Affairs when they visited Australia earlier this year. I am also pleased to advise that the Deputy Prime Minister has identified mango access to the Thai market as one of 3 priority items in the Commonwealth's market development task force paper on Thailand. If we are successful in negotiating a reduction in the tariffs of Thailand, I can foresee a major improvement in the market price offered for Northern Territory mangoes, not only in competition on the Sydney and Melbourne markets, but in Asian destinations.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed, I believe I have been successful. Early this year, I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Hon Tim Fischer, in relation to access to the Thai mango market. It may be of interest to members to note that Thailand produces something like 600 000 t of mangoes per annum as opposed to an Australian production of about 40 000 t per annum. However, Thailand has a different season. The Thai market could prove potentially very lucrative for Northern Territory mangoes in that, in the out-of-season period in Thailand, somewhere between $6 and $7 a kilo can be obtained for mangoes. I was encouraged by the fact that the United States has negotiated a reduction in tariffs on apples, from 54% to 10%. As a result of that, in one year it exported 1.5 million cases of apples to Thailand. I think we could expect a similar increase in market penetration of Australian mangoes into Thailand, given similar tariff imposts.
The Deputy Prime Minister has written back to me. He has been able to have the issue of Australian mangoes into Thailand placed on the trade agenda. In fact, he raised it with the Thai Ministers for Commerce and Foreign Affairs when they visited Australia earlier this year. I am also pleased to advise that the Deputy Prime Minister has identified mango access to the Thai market as one of 3 priority items in the Commonwealth's market development task force paper on Thailand. If we are successful in negotiating a reduction in the tariffs of Thailand, I can foresee a major improvement in the market price offered for Northern Territory mangoes, not only in competition on the Sydney and Melbourne markets, but in Asian destinations.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016