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Current Topics What an Agreement should look like Market Economy Status Strategic and Security Interests China-Australia Economic Direction General What an Agreement should look like Trade Policy Issues Graeme Thomson, Former Australian negotiator with China over WTO accession, speaking at the Australia China FTA Conference, August 2004 "... Australia and China are at a juncture in their respective development paths which allows them to choose to enter a significantly closer economic relationship with free trade in goods without exception, opened access in services and freer and secure investment. This would be in both countries' interests. The vehicle should be a WTO plus Free Trade Agreement (FTA) fully within the rules of GATT Article XXIV and the Understanding on the Interpretation of GATT Article XXIV. That is, there should be no exemptions to coverage and all phasing should be completed within 10 years from date of entry into force. In short, the objective should be a high quality agreement of the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Trade Relations Agreement (CER) kind. The Leaders of the two countries should, after taking into account the Feasibility Study for a FTA, give directions publicly to their negotiators to achieve this outcome by a set near term date at the end of 2005." Click here for more. [PDF format - 110k] Market Economy Status "Opposition trade spokesman Simon Crean perplexed industry and stunned manufacturing unions by saying that granting China market-economy status ahead of any Australia-China free-trade agreement would not undermine Australia's anti-dumping regime", writes Tracy Sutherland in the Australian Financial Review, 22 February---full article in AFR archives. "The Australian Indsutry Group's position on anti-dumping has clearly led to a sharpening of the ideological knives..." writes Heather Ridout, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group on 11 February 2005, in response to Bosworth and Trewin's AFR article of 9 February. Australian anti-dumping laws conform [AFR archives] "Anti-dumping is anti-competitive and blatant protectionism" write Malcolm Bosworth and Ray Trewin, two academics from ANU, in the Australian Financial Review, 9 February 2005. Malcolm Bosworth and Ray Trewin, Dumping claims simply hide self-interest [AFR archives]. "Australia will be no more than a consumer society which has lost its manufacturing base and economic and cultural independence" writes Doug Cameron in a speech for the AMWU. Read the entire speech here. The Significance of Market Economy Status for China What is the significance of Market economy status for China? A paper entitled 'Market economy status for China: Implications for Anti-Dumping protection in Australia' by Andrew Stoler, Executive Director, IIBE & L, University of Adelaide, explores these issues. Click here for PDF [75k]. Strategic and Security Interests Australia and China's Shared Interests - Security and Strategic Dimensions The Hon Alexander Downer MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Australia China Free Trade Agreement Conference August 2004 "... In the current global environment, China's pragmatic and cooperative approach to regional threats - and to other security and foreign policy issues - has cemented its role as a constructive actor and as a valued contributor to the region's core security and stability." "... From Australia's point of view, building constructive relationships is a key to a secure and stable future in our region. Such relationships are reinforcing and complementary and demonstrate convergences and common interests. China today is enmeshed in the global and regional supply chains. China is producing manufactures sold in all corners of the world and is a key player in world resources and energy markets." Click here for more. (Text on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs site.) China-Australia Economic Direction Australia China Economic Directions - Long Term Trends in the Australian Economy Dr Ken Henry, Secretary, Commonwealth Treasury, speaking at the Australia China FTA Conference, August 2004 "Australia's energy exports have been rising strongly over the past couple of decades. While energy exports to China have been very small up to 2002-03, they are due to grow rapidly. Other major merchandise exports to China - principally of iron ore, textiles (wool) and metals - have been growing strongly for some years. An illustration of what might be expected is the signing of the recent LNG contract between the North West Shelf Venture and Guangdong province. "But the complementarities between the two economies extend beyond natural and rural resources and metals to other sectors; like tourism, education, finance and business services. "While services are produced in Australia predominantly for domestic consumption, services exports are increasing as a share of total trade flows. Despite suffering a set-back recently from terrorism fears and SARS, tourism has grown strongly, with new markets in East Asia adding to traditional sources of tourists from Europe and North America. Short-term arrival numbers have grown more than four-fold in the last 20 years. Education-related exports have grown strongly over the past two decades from less than 1 per cent of service exports in the mid-1970s to 12.3 per cent of service exports in 1997-98, and about 15 per cent in 2002-03." Click here for more. [PDF format - 220k] General Care Needed in China Shop An editorial in The Australian on Tuesday January 4 reaffirms the importance of a positive trade deal with China: 'AMONG the horrors of last week's Asian disaster, the new era that began on January 1 with the commencement of Australia's free trade agreements with the United States and Thailand is easily overlooked.' Read the full article here. Important Conference Papers Now Available For the full range of papers available from the DFAT/Australian APEC Study Centre Australia China FTA Conference on the 12th and 13th of August, click here. Website pages designed by Fergco Pty Ltd. |
