Australia is looking into exporting pulses and oilseeds to India. Australian High Commissioner to India Patrick Michael Suckling told BusinessLine that Australia was seeking greater access to Indian market for its agricultural commodities and processed food products.

“Pulses and oilseeds could be among such items,” he said. He, however, said that the Australian agriculture was not subsidised. “Australian agricultural products are of high quality and costlier, too. We are seeking premium segment of the Indian market,” he said.

Australia, which is negotiating a free-trade agreement, is appreciative of India’s sensitivity to opening of its doors for agricultural products. “What we are saying is – don’t close doors on everything (agricultural),” he said.

The Down Under is currently preparing two of its provinces – Northern Territories and Western Australia – for enhanced agricultural export baskets. “We are even ready to tailor made supplies of agricultural items. Earlier, we had faced similar resistances from the Japan and China regarding agricultural produce exports,” he said.

However, Australia established greater access to these markets for its agricultural items and eventually entered into free-trade agreements.

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