Tiny fruit fly sours Australia's big agri export ambitions

Sydney

A TINY fruit fly is undermining Australia's efforts to grow its US$3 billion fruit and vegetable exports, despite the country reaching a series of free trade agreements (FTAs) with its largest trading partners in Asia.

Australia sealed trade agreements with China, Japan and South Korea last year - deals that guaranteed a significant reduction in tariffs for agriculture produce - and were heralded as a catalyst for rapid expansion in exports.