Iraq hopes to keep importing wheat from Australia, but Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned that it is now a competitive market.
The Australian government at Tuesday's joint parties meeting will outline its decision on handling future wheat exports in the wake of the AWB kickbacks scandal.
The Australian newspaper on Monday said the government would retain a single desk for exports run by players other than AWB.
Mr Zebari said Iraq's trade minister would be visiting Australia soon to discuss wheat trade and other bilateral issues between Iraq and Australia.
He said Iraq had imported Australian wheat for the past 50 to 60 years.
"We are accustomed to that, but definitely this is a competitive market. Other countries were interested in the Iraqi market, but this issue will be resolved," Mr Zebari told reporters in Canberra.
"We are interested very much in maintaining those contracts with Australia."
But, he said, Iraq had received many offers from Canadian, the US and European wheat exporters.
Australia would be given fair access to the Iraqi market, he said.
"There will be fair access, I think, both the United States and you are our partners, our allies," he said.
"And definitely our people will look at the merits of these contracts, basically."
He said Australia's bid would be taken seriously because of its historical relations with Iraq.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government looked forward to the Iraqi trade minister's visit.
"Obviously, in terms of wheat marketing arrangements, it's something the government is considering in a separate context," Mr Downer said.
"But we'll, obviously, pragmatically approach the issue of the Iraqi market."
Mr Downer said Australia sold about 450,000 tonnes of wheat to Iraq last year.
"And I think that we will be able to sustain a good supply of wheat into that market. But, of course, it is a much more competitive market than it once was for all sorts of reasons."
|