AgForce has joined with the National Farmers' Federation and others across the agricultural sector in expressing deep disappointment at the outcome of the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations, warning it fails to deliver meaningful outcomes for Queensland producers.
AgForce General President Shane McCarthy said the agreement fell short of expectations and highlighted the mounting pressures facing Australian agriculture.
"Across all commodities, there is a consistent concern that this agreement does not deliver the level of access needed to support growth in Australian agriculture," Mr McCarthy said.
"We echo the concerns raised by the National Farmers' Federation and others across the sector - this deal does not provide the meaningful market access Australian producers were seeking.
"This is shaping up as a perfect storm for producers. A disappointing EU deal, ongoing fuel and fertiliser supply pressures and increasing regulatory burden through measures like the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act reforms are all hitting the sector at once," Mr McCarthy said.
"At a time when farmers should be focused on producing food and fibre, they're instead dealing with rising costs, supply uncertainty and growing compliance pressures.
"At the end of the day, every Australian relies on farmers. We need policy settings that back producers in - not make the job harder."
AgForce commodity leaders said the impacts of the agreement would be felt across sectors:
AgForce Cattle President Lloyd Hick said:
"This outcome is deeply disappointing for the beef industry. The EU represents a high-value market, but without meaningful improvements in access, Queensland producers are being left at a competitive disadvantage against other global suppliers."
AgForce Grains President Brendan Taylor said:
"For grain producers, this deal falls short of delivering the market access needed to justify the effort. It raises concerns about precedent in future trade negotiations and whether Australian agriculture is being prioritised in these outcomes."
AgForce Sheep, Wool & Goats President Boyd Webb said:
"This is a missed opportunity for the sheep and wool industries to expand into premium European markets. Limited access and ongoing barriers mean producers won't see the benefits that were hoped for from this agreement."
AgForce Cane President Christopher Punzell said:
"For the sugar industry, the lack of meaningful progress in access is frustrating. We continue to face constrained opportunities in key markets, and outcomes like this do little to improve long-term confidence for producers."
Mr McCarthy said AgForce would continue to advocate strongly for improved outcomes in future trade negotiations.
"Australian agriculture cannot afford to be left behind in global markets. We will continue working with industry and government to ensure future agreements deliver real value for producers."
