April 7, 2008

Australia would not yield on agriculture in trade pact with Japan
 

Australia would not allow the exclusion of beef, grains, dairy products and sugar from an economic partnership agreement with Japan, Australian Agriculture Minister Tony Burke told reporters here Friday, The Nikkei reported in its Saturday morning edition.

Japan is demanding that some agricultural products be excluded from an agreement because of strong opposition from its farmers.

Australia's production capacity is limited by water and land constraints, Burke insisted. It is misguided to think that Japan's agricultural sector would collapse if the market was liberalized to accept Australian farm products, he added.