Australia recently signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with China (June 2015), Japan (July 2014) and South Korea (April 2014). These agreements include arrangements to substantially reduce or remove tariffs on Australian food and agribusiness export products.

However, reduced tariffs alone will not provide Queensland businesses with the full potential benefits stemming from these FTAs. It is important to identify which markets contain genuine potential for growth, by examining both the impact that the FTAs are likely to have on demand for these products, and the ability of Queensland’s agribusiness and food sectors to increase production and exports to these countries.

The overarching objective of the project is to assist Queensland’s food and agribusiness sector to capitalise on market opportunities arising from the three FTAs. The following sections present an overview of the headline opportunities arising from each FTA and specific opportunities for trade and investment.

Overview

This document presents an overview of the findings from Stage 1, focusing on Queensland’s agricultural production and how the FTAs with China, Japan and South Korea may translate into opportunities for Queensland.

Approach

This document outlines the approach taken to complete Stage 1 of the 'Market opportunities for Queensland agribusiness arising from FTAs with China, Japan and South Korea' project. The approach to Stage 1 is outlined in two parts: the desktop review and consultations.

Queensland agricultural production

This section presents an overview of Queensland’s agricultural and seafood/aquaculture production by value for the three years 2011-12 to 2013-14. This provides a baseline understanding as to which agricultural commodities Queensland is strongest in and which commodities are growing or declining in value.

Opportunities with China

This section presents the headline opportunities arising from the FTA with China through an analysis of the significance of the FTA for key commodities, data on key Queensland exports, key Queensland competitors and production/consumption trends.

Opportunities with Japan

This section presents the headline opportunities arising from the FTA with Japan through an analysis of the significance of the FTA for key commodities, data on key Queensland exports, key Queensland competitors and production/consumption trends.

Opportunities with South Korea

This section presents the headline opportunities arising from the FTA with South Korea through an analysis of the significance of the FTA for key commodities, data on key Queensland exports, key Queensland competitors and production/consumption trends.

China product profiles

This section profiles the commodities identified as opportunities for trade and investment with China. The topics for each commodity include: the implications of the FTA; the level and drivers of demand; Queensland’s ability to supply and the trends in production; competitor analysis; market operation, supply chain barriers and market access; key players in-market.

Japan product profiles

This section profiles the commodities identified as opportunities for trade and investment with Japan. The topics for each commodity include: the implications of the FTA; the level and drivers of demand; Queensland’s ability to supply and the trends in production; competitor analysis; market operation, supply chain barriers and market access; key players in-market.

South Korea product profiles

This section profiles the commodities identified as opportunities for trade and investment with South Korea. The topics for each commodity include: the implications of the FTA; the level and drivers of demand; Queensland’s ability to supply and the trends in production; competitor analysis; market operation, supply chain barriers and market access; key players in-market.