This report reviews one proposed treaty action: Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and Australia pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the Tariff-Rate Quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (the proposed Agreement).
The purpose of the proposed Agreement is to reapportion European Union (EU) World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU. The tariff quota reapportionment applies to beef, sheepmeat, sugar, and cheese. The proposed Agreement also removes a non-tariff barrier for rice within the EU WTO TRQ.
Though the proposed Agreement does not expand market access for Australian producers and exporters, the Committee notes the importance of this agreement to the affected industries and consented to a request from the Minister for Trade, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, for expedited consideration of the treaty action. Consequently, the Committee completed its inquiry within 10 rather than the standard 20 joint sitting days.
The proposed Agreement would better align TRQs with industry preferences and provide commercial certainty to industry in advance of the new quota administration years. The Committee is satisfied the proposed Agreement is in Australia’s national interest and recommends binding treaty action be taken.
This report also contains the Committee’s reviews of two minor treaty actions:
Declaration of intention not to become a Contracting Party to the Energy Charter Treaty and the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects
Acceptance of the Accession of Vietnam to the Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters.
The Committee supports these minor treaty actions and agreed binding treaty action be taken.