China done, now let's move on EU

"It's bloody excellent," he told Queensland Country Life.

"It's a fantastic result that a lot of people have worked very hard to achieve."

Mr Angus is no stranger to the Chinese market. His family has been exporting their beef under the Kimberly Red brand to China for the past decade.

They have been pioneers in a red meat market that many believe could become one of Australia's most important, once the tariffs are lifted.

Mr Angus said the trick would be capitalising on the opportunity.

"It is such a diverse market - they want all grades of meat," he said.

"In the past it was probably viewed as our lower-point items

but as people are becoming more affluent they are demanding more premium products and a diverse range of products.

"The thing that will make China really important is that some countries only take half a dozen cuts, but what I think we will see after the tariffs are removed is better access for all our cuts."

Whether the free trade deal would mean more money in the pockets of average producers was another question, Mr Angus said.

"There is every likelihood that we will see better returns to producers but it's very hard to equate that back to a figure," he said.

"It will depend on competition in our own country.

"This will certainly afford the exporting sector an opportunity to get a better return for the beef they sell and in theory that should mean a better return for producers, but we will have to wait and see.

"I do what I do because I want to guarantee myself a better return."

Mr Angus hopes the federal government will now turn its attention to securing an FTA with the European Union.

While not a large market in terms of tonnage, Mr Angus said the EU grainfed price was a benchmark price indicator for the entire sector.

"The Americans have the edge on us in Europe and they are in negotiations for a FTA and I just hope we get the ball rolling and don't get disadvantaged in that market," he said. "The EU grainfed market sets for the price for every other market in Australia so I hope their focus will now be on Europe."