Washington DC, 20 April 2023 (TDI): Yesterday, United States (US) Trade Representative, Ambassador Doug McKalip met with Murray Watt, the Minister of Australia for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry.
The purpose was to discuss how the US and Australia can collaborate on climate-conscious, worker-centered trade to benefit agricultural producers in both countries.
During the meeting, US Ambassador McKalip and Minister of Australia discussed various initiatives to promote sustainable agriculture and combat climate change.
They emphasized the importance of reducing carbon emissions in the agricultural sector and supporting farmers who are implementing environmentally friendly practices.
Also Read: Pakistan and Australia discuss visa assistance and bilateral ties
Moving on, Ambassador McKalip highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Also, he emphasized that the US is eager to work with Australia to support farmers and enhance economic growth through climate-conscious trade.
In return, Australian Minister expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to discuss shared priorities with US Ambassador McKalip.
He stated that Australia is committed to working with the US to promote fair and sustainable trade that benefits farmers, workers, and the environment.
Both parties agreed that “climate change” is a significant challenge facing the agricultural sector and that collaboration between nations is essential to combat this global threat.
They also discussed the potential for joint research and development initiatives to promote innovative farming practices and improve the resilience of the agriculture sector.
Also Read: Cambodia, Australia launch new fragrant rice variety
In a nutshell, the meeting between Ambassador McKalip and Minister Watt marks a significant step forward in strengthening the trade relationship between the US and Australia.
The US remains committed to working with its allies to promote sustainable trade that benefits both the economy and the environment.
About US Trade Representative
The Office of US Trade Representative is an agency responsible for developing and coordinating US international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.
The agency also leads the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) and coordinates trade policy activities with other government agencies.
US-Australia trade ties
The economic ties between the US and Australia are strong and continue to grow. In recent years, the two countries have worked together on several initiatives related to trade and investment, science and technology, and energy including:
- The Asia EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy) program, which aims to promote energy security and economic growth in the region
- Joint Declaration on Critical Minerals Cooperation, which aims to promote the development and use of critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements, essential for the production of many high-tech products.
They have also collaborated on existing trade agreements, such as the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), which has eliminated tariffs on many goods and services.
){kind=link}