FED:Coalition to boost trade: Truss

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
FED:Coalition to boost trade: Truss

BRISBANE, Aug 3 AAP - A coalition government will restore funding to exporters and
appoint an ambassador for trade reform and specialist trade representatives for Australia's
manufacturing and service industries, Nationals leader Warren Truss says.

Speaking at an Australian Institute of Export breakfast in Brisbane, Mr Truss said
trade has been a low priority for the Labor government.

He said that Labor in 2007 promised to revitalise the Export Market Development Grants
scheme (EMDG), but had reduced payments to exporters.

An Abbott government would increase the EMDG cap to $200 million from July 1, 2011,
restoring a $50 million shortfall caused by Labor government mismanagement, he said.

Mr Truss said exporters will then be able to anticipate that claims for the promotion
of exports under the EMDG would be paid in full.

"Furthermore, in government the coalition will examine the merits of removing the cap
altogether, provided payments could be kept in reasonable bounds," Mr Truss said

Mr Truss said the coalition would appoint an ambassador for trade reform to promote
global trade reform and re-establish the Trade Advisory Council abolished by Labor.

The coalition would also continue funding for the position of trade representative
for agricultural industries and establish two new positions covering the manufacturing
and service industries.

Mr Truss said the coalition's highest trade priority will be the Doha round of negotiations
towards freer world trade, but it would vigorously pursue free trade agreements with China,
Japan, Malaysia, the Gulf Co-operation Council, South Korea and Indonesia.

AAP stg/pjo/maur

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