Australian wool industry representatives are in China this week for discussions with China's key government and wool industry representatives regarding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
The talks have been arranged by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will put wool at the centre of upcoming FTA negotiations.
The discussions are being held between representatives from Australian Wool Innovation Limited's (AWI) China Free Trade Committee and representatives from China's Department of Commerce (MOFCOM), The Ministry of Agriculture, China's Wool Testing Authority and commercial processors.
The talks will focus on the complementarity of the Australian and Chinese industries and the fact that both countries have much to gain from a liberalising of trade. AWI Deputy Chairman and Chair of the AWI China Free Trade Committee Brian van Rooyen will give the presentation.
Mr van Rooyen stated that Australia will emphasise the fact that Australia and China are perfect trading partners, with Australia the major supplier of wool to China's textile industry, and China providing a market for more than 50 per cent of Australia's annual wool exports. The vast majority of wool produced in China is broader in micron than Australian Merino wool and does not compete with that supplied from Australia.
The talks will also cover the benefits such as improved marketing systems and reduced costs that could flow tothe Chinese textile sector were a Free Trade Agreement to be implemented.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
