The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into effect on 1 October and immediately eliminated tariffs on agricultural products, including canola seed and beef.
The CEPA, finalised in November 2024 and effective from 1 October, is Australia's first trade deal with a Middle Eastern country. The agreement will remove 99pc of tariffs on Australian products in the UAE, when fully implemented. This includes the 5pc tariff on Australian canola, pulses and other grains, giving Australian exporters duty-free access to the market.
The UAE was a top-three destination for Australian canola in the 2024-25 financial year ending 31 July, importing 658,200t, which accounted for 11pc of all Australian canola exports. The Al Ghurair Resources Dubai Canola Processing plant, one of the UAE's largest crushing facilities, produces 1,300 t/d of canola oil and crushes 40mn oilseeds/yr to produce oil and feed for export.
The CEPA will also remove all duties on Australian frozen red meat exported to the UAE from 1 October. Australia exported 12,200t of beef to the UAE in January-September, mostly premium chilled cuts. The UAE is Australia's largest beef market in the Middle East and the fourth-largest market for sheep meat.
Trade could accelerate under the new agreement, the Australian federal government said. The UAE and Australia had A$12.3bn ($8.12bn) in two-way goods and services trade in 2024, and it believes an additional A$678 mn/yr in Australian goods exports will enter the UAE, the Australian government added.
