Australia's FTA with China adds to rivalry in 'hotly contested' market for soft commodities

Wed, 19 Nov 2014

By Suze Metherell Nov. 20 (BusinessDesk) - Australia's free trade agreement with China heralds a renewed focus to diversify the country's economy away from a reliance on mineral exports to soft commodities and intensifies competition in a "hotly contested" market. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott labelled the deal between New Zealand's two-largest trading partners, "at least as good as New Zealand's" while unnamed government officials said it gives Australian dairy better access than New Zealand. The FTA comes after nearly a decade...

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