That is why Australia's sugar and beef industries have been amongst the loudest opponents of halting pigmeat imports. Stopping imports is not the way to save jobs in the domestic pigmeat industry. But it would be the way to put many times more jobs at risk in other vital rural industries. The Government is providing funds to help modernise the pigmeat industry and to improve its capacity to export without putting other sectors at risk. Exports bring jobs and exports need open markets.
Open markets are a two-way street.
We can't close ours and expect others to keep theirs open. These are often difficult and emotional issues for governments to deal with - in Australia as elsewhere. Simple populist solutions sometimes sound attractive but on closer examination they fail to provide an answer and make matters worse. Governments must take a lead in helping people adjust to new situations, understand the potential benefits and exploit the new opportunities. To do this the greatest possible openness in our political structures and economies is demanded.