Canada in market for SW wines

South West wine exporters can raise a glass to the successful resolution of unfair trade restrictions between Australia and Canada which were announced earlier this week.

After much hard work and pressure, Australia and Canada have agreed to settle a number of Canadian measures that were the subject of a World Trade Organisation dispute within the wine industry.

“Any opportunity to export out of the South West is worth pursuing,” Geographe Wine Region vice-president Wayne Hammond said.

“We encourage our members to see whether it’s a good fit for their business model and if it is, they should embrace it.”

Forrest MHR Nola Marino said the removal of the discriminatory measures would increase access for South West wine producers in the important Canadian market.

“Removing these trade barriers will mean our wine exporters can now compete on a level playing field with Canadian wine producers,” Mrs Marino said. “With South West wine exporters enjoying zero tariffs into Canada, this is a market with real potential for growth and this agreement will provide further opportunities for our wine exporters to sell more Australian wine in Canada.”

Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said discriminatory measures had disadvantaged wine exporters in Canada for a number of years.

“This agreement is a demonstration that we will always work to ensure our wine producers are treated fairly in the global market,” Mr Birmingham said.

“We will stand-up against any practices that could disadvantage their ability to export our high-quality wine to the world.”

In April of last year, Canada agreed to remove unfair restrictions on Australian wine sales in the province of British Columbia.

With agreement to remove restrictions at the federal level and in Ontario and Nova Scotia, discussions continue on the last province of Quebec.