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.
Post by AAP regarding Coalition's Trade Launch this morning.
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