Cut flowers may be one of the winners in the proposed Australia-USA Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) announced yesterday (February 9, 2004) by the Australian Federal Government. 

Under the AUSFTA, Australian cut flower exports to the US will be free of US import tariffs from day one of the agreement, once it is approved by the Australian parliament.

If the Government is successful in putting the agreement into place, which at this point is by no means certain, it will mean an end to the 7.5% tariff that has been levied on some flowers imported from Australia into the USA. 

The AUSFTA deal states that, "Tariffs on the majority of agricultural products, including most lamb and sheepmeat, and products such as oranges, cut flowers and cotton seeds, will be zero from day 1 of the Agreement".

The US cut flower market has become a key market for the Australian cut flower export sector which was last estimated to be worth over $55million dollars annually and growing (Australian Flower Export Council, 2001). 

Among the most important flower exports to the US are Australian Waxflower (Chamelaucium spp.), Kangaroo Paws, (Anigozanthos. spp.), Banksia spp., Waratah (Telopea speciosissima), Snowflower (Thryptomene calycina), Stirlingia latifolia, Boronia spp., Banksias, Grevilleas and Protea sp..

Native foliages are also grown for the export market, with the key exports being Koala Fern (Caustis blakeii), Leucadendron spp., Emu Grass (Podocarpus drouynianus), Woolly Bush (Adenanthos cygnorum), Basket flower, (Adenanthos obovatus), Decussata (Beaufortia decussata), Chinese Puzzle (Evandra aristata) and of course Eucalyptus spp.

Commercial plantings of native flowers began in Australia during the early 1980's in response to increasing overseas demand particularly from Japan and Europe. Cultivation favoured production of a high quality product, with improved stem length and flower form, reduced fungal and insect damage and longer vase life.  Success in the US market is seen by many within the industry as one of the key factoers in sustaining growth in the export arm of the industry.