Seafood Trade Matters
The latest developments in international seafood trade & market access affecting Australian seafood exporters.
March 30, 2023
Seafood Trade Matters: Australia-UK FTA approved; China market access; Japan market update
UK: Parliament approves Australia trade agreement
The UK Parliament has concluded legal requirements to bring the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement into force “as soon as possible”. Read Trade Minister Farrell’s official statement here.
According to Seafood Industry Australia, “there will be an elimination of tariffs on entry into force including those on all fin-fish and the 12% tariff on fresh and frozen rock lobster. The remaining tariffs will be eliminated over three years.” Read more on the SIA website here.
New Food Magazine reports that toothfish and prawns will be amongst the Australian seafood exports that will be cheaper for UK consumers under the FTA.
China: Timber access moves forward
The South China Morning Post reports on progress in the restoration of Australia-China timber exports: ‘Chinese customs recently sent Australian agriculture officials a list of technical rules that must be met to resume log imports, which had since been sent to industry’.
Read the full report here (login may be required).
Chinese authorities have also eased restrictions on seafood (hairtail and mackerel) from Taiwan. Media reporting here (Chinese). Read the official China Customs announcement here (Chinese).
Export Supply Chain Service: Industry briefing
Austrade's Export Supply Chain Service (ESCS) invites audiences to attend the next ESCS Industry Briefing on 3 April 2023 at 11:00am - 12:00pm AEST. Register here.
Austrade: Go Global Toolkit
Austrade has launched further resources for new exporters via the ‘Go Global Toolkit’ webpage. Have a look here.
Simplified Trading System
Trade Minister Farrell held an industry consultation meeting regarding the government’s ongoing Simplified Trading System project. Read the Minister's statement about progress here
WTO: Negotiations on fisheries subsidies agreement
Building on the deal reached last year to limit harmful fishing subsidies, WTO members have commenced negotiations to extend and improve the agreement. Read more on the Seafoodsource.com website here.
Japan: USDA Seafood Market Update
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Service has published an updated review of the Japan seafood market: ‘Japan is one of the world’s leading consumers of seafood. In 2019, it ranked as the 5th highest global consumer of seafood products at 46 kilograms per capita, more than twice the global average.
Despite this, the report notes ‘declines in both production and imports reflect seafood consumption contracting over the past two decades’ Read the full market update on the USDA website here.
USA: Navigating seafood import regulations
Seafoodsource.com has published a series of tips for dealing with US Customs and Border Protection and Food and Drug Administration seafood law enforcement. Read the advice here.
The STAG is funded by partners:
The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry. We receive funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).which is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Any information provided in this STAG publication is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your individual circumstances and business objectives.
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