The Winemakers’ Federation Australia has welcomed the news that 11 nations have agreed to sign the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) next month.
WFA Chief Executive Tony Battaglene said the deal, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Vietnam, will help winemakers access key and emerging export markets.
“This agreement will provide real benefits to the Australian wine sector,” Battaglene said.
“It will address tariffs as well as non-tariff trade barriers across a range of key and emerging export markets for wine which will be welcomed by winemakers across the country,” he said.
“Our understanding is that the new CPTPP’s tariff schedule will echo the earlier TPP draft and represents a leap forward for strong export growth and trade liberalisation,” he said.
“Also of great importance to us is the inclusion of the wine and spirit annex which creates a harmonisation framework that will remove a range of wine technical barriers to trade.
“I congratulate Prime Minister Turnbull and Trade Minister Ciobo for their persistence and hard work in bringing this agreement forward.”
Under the CPTPP, the Australian wine industry expects to see elimination of the following wine tariffs in:
- Mexico (between three to 10 years);
- Canada (upon entry into force);
- Peru (within five years);
- Malaysia (within 15 years);
- Vietnam (within 11 years).
Mr Battaglene said the CPTPP was a separate matter to Australia’s ongoing dispute settlement action against Canada through the World Trade Organisation to resolve in-country treatment of Australian wine imports.
“The WTO challenge that Australia has launched will not be effected by the signing of the CPTPP, as provincial issues of concern are not covered by the agreement,” Battaglene added.