Australia’s wool industry looks to India with greater interest.

This follows the ratification of the new India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which is expected to grow India’s current market share of raw Australian wool. The lowering of the tariffs on processed wool into India and the removal of tariffs on greasy wool are seen as assisting in exports and allowing for a greater flow of value added products that come into India in raw form but leave semi processed or as finished products. In addition India’s progress in technologies such as natural and waterless dyeing, as well as its long history in artisan processes are of growing interest to the global audience.

The key focus is on expanding the wool trade between the two countries. Australian exporters, businesses, workers and consumers hope to reap the opportunities and benefits of more open trade with India. India has always been among the top three importers of Australian wool, taking between four per cent to 12 percent of the clip or around 8per cent on an average annually. Discussions are on between Wool Industries Australia and the Indian Ministry of Textiles about a wool joint working group. Woolmark launched its Grown in Australia, made in India campaign in 2017-18.