There is no such thing as a "level playing field" in international trade, but it is how you deal with the uneven conditions that counts, according to former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon. Tim Fischer.

"We cannot go back to 'Fortress Australia'," Mr Fischer said, referring to protectionist trade policies proposed by some parties during the last Federal election.

Citing examples from his six years as Trade Minister and Shadow Trade Minister and three decades in State and Federal politics, Mr Fischer presented his views on international trade at this year's Nowik Lecture. The lecture, titled Trade - the true story, was hosted last week by Charles Sturt University's Albury-Wodonga Campus.

Mr Fischer observed that negotiating international trade agreements needed a personal touch.

"Personal relationships do count, as do national self-interests," Mr Fischer said. "Negotiators should seize windows of opportunity to get the most from trade negotiations."

As an example, Mr Fischer cited Australia's win in recent trade negotiations with China, at the expense of USA, in return for Australian backing China's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

Mr Fischer acknowledged the need for imports to encourage further growth in exports. "To rail against imports … is one thing, but at the end of the day, Australia cannot turn its back on the rest of the world. "Protectionism is pure poison," Mr Fischer said.

"If we had a tariff wall of 100%, the wine industry would not be exporting wine to California and France, while [Australia's] Jacobs Creek label would not be the number one selling wine in the UK."

Mr Fischer expressed great hope for the future of Australian trade. "Australia is well placed to bounce into the 21st century as a great trading nation," he said. "Ecommerce gives 19 million people in Australia the chance to trade very effectively on the world stage," he said.

"It is hoped, however, that the successor to the Uruguay round of trade negotiations can attack that which is creating most difficulty for Australian exporters … the Common Agricultural Policy [of the European Union] and the distortions of massive subsidisation."

In conclusion, Mr Fischer said that there was too much slippage and too many tariff barriers, which were "wrecking the economic performance of Australian farmers and the price for their products."

The annual Nowik Lecture is named in honour of international business leader and academic, Dr Henry Nowik, AO OBE who was also a leading advocate for locating large businesses in regional Australia.