Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated has welcomed last week's announcement that the Australian and Canadian Governments have reached an agreement to remove discriminatory measures impeding Australian wine sales in British Colombia.
The Agreement reached by Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham, means the removal of conditions in the market, which have restricted access to retail shelf space for imported Australian wines by November 1, 2019.
The agreement came in response to the dispute action launched by the Australian government in the World Trade Organization against Canada's discriminatory measures affecting Australian wine at the federal level and in four Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Australian Grape & Wine chief executive Tony Battaglene said the agreement was an important step in removing a range of trade barriers in the Canadian market.
"We are delighted in the leadership shown by the Trade Minister and the cooperation of his Canadian counterpart to progress this resolution," he said.
"Canada is a highly valuable market for Australian wine, worth $208 million in 2018 and retail grocery sales are an increasingly important sales channel."
Mr Battaglene said he wanted a level playing field on which to compete and the opportunity to provide Canadian consumers the greater access and choice in wines.
"While the WTO case will continue, we remain open to resolving the remaining issues outside the process and would encourage the other provinces to follow the lead of British Colombia," he said.
