US printing stays on top as China imports grow

According to ABS data, Chinese imports to Australia were more than $1.8 billion in 2004. The US remains the top source of imports for the Australian printing industry, but Printing Industries manager Hagop Tchamkertenian expects this to change once a Free Trade Agreement is negotiated.

“This announcement has showed just how important China has become,” Tchamkertenian says. “The US is still far in front for the Australian printing industry, but with a Free Trade Agreement in the pipeline it is inevitable that the dynamics will shift once the deal has been signed.”

Printing Industries is currently waiting on statistics from the ABS as to how much of the imports are printing related, and is currently talking to companies in the industry to determine what the impact will be.

Tchamkertenian warns that caution needs to be taken in the drawing up of the FTA. “Given the recent developments in the merchandise trade position, it is vital that the FTA with China is not only free but also fair. To ensure a fair outcome our trade negotiators need to resist the temptation of fast tracking the FTA with China.”