Fed: Single-desk market under threat - O'Connor

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2004
Fed: Single-desk market under threat - O'Connor

Labor says Australian agriculture has been hit with a double-whammy through the new
trade deal with the United States.

Opposition agriculture spokesman GAVAN O'CONNOR says sugar has been left out of the
deal, and single desk marketing is under threat.

Single desk marketing refers to a single entity being responsible for all export sales
of a particular commodity such as sugar or wheat.

Mr O'CONNOR says a close study of the agreement shows the government says that the
single-desk arrangements for sugar, rice, wheat and barley have been preserved.

But he says the US say they'll negotiate with Australia in the World Trade Organisation
to develop export competition disciplines that eliminate restrictions on the right of
entities to export.

Mr O'CONNOR says the entities referred to are the single desk bodies that are run by
significant industries in Australia such as the Australian Wheat Board.

AAP RTV dep/sb/rcg/rt

KEYWORD: TRADE O'CONNOR (CANBERRA) WITH AUDIO

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.