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Australia

Tridge fears FTA patent war
22-Jul-2004
One of Australia’s most recognised Linux developers, Dr Andrew Tridgell, has attacked the proposed Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), claiming it could pit local open source developers against Microsoft in a "patent war".
FTA BACKLASH: Farmers petition the King
20-Jul-2004
A leading farming group says it has petitioned His Majesty the King to call on the government to withdraw milk and dairy products from Thailand’s free-trade agreement (FTA) with Australia.
FTA BACKLASH: Trade talk details to be revealed
19-Jul-2004
Criticism of the free-trade agreement signed with Australia earlier this month has prompted the Commerce Ministry to set up a committee to monitor impacts.
Why Latham should reject the FTA
19-Jul-2004
This so-called free trade agreement is a humiliating sell-out, says Tim Colebatch.
Landmark deal signed - Thaksin, Howard praise FTA accord
6-Jul-2004
Australia and Thailand yesterday signed a landmark free trade deal heralded as an important step towards Australia and New Zealand’s inclusion in a Southeast Asian free trade zone.
Farmers to lobby King over FTA
6-Jul-2004
Dairy farmers across the country have pledged to petition His Majesty the King for help as part of their objection to the government’s freetrade agreement (FTA) with Australia, the chairman of a dairy farmer’s cooperative group said yesterday.
Shin Satellite denies benefiting from pact
6-Jul-2004
Shin Satellite has strongly denied allegations that it would benefit from the Thai-Australian free trade area (FTA) deal, saying that Australia had already opened its telecom market for full competition and the company had entered the market seven years ago.
Australia-US Free Trade Deal a Disaster
6-Jul-2004 Australia - U.S. Free Trade Deal a Disaster
President Bush promised the Australian government an economic sweetener in exchange for support of the U.S. led invasion, and under fast track authority Congress must vote up or down on the Australia U.S. Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) by early July.
Big FTA stoush brewing on copyright
30-Jun-2004
A full-scale political stoush is brewing over intellectual property provisions in the Australia-US free trade agreement following the passage of enabling legislation last week.
Reports highlight costs of free trade deal
28-Jun-2004 Reports highlight costs of free trade deal
Politicians from Australia’s opposition party could try to derail the Australian-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) after a Senate select committee claimed the deal could push up drugs prices and give copyright owners in Australia even more protection than they enjoy in the US.
Doctors urge US to oppose FTA
21-Jun-2004
A doctors group has written to American lawmakers urging them to oppose the Australia-United States free trade agreement (FTA).
THAI-AUSTRALIA FTA: 1,500 dairy farmers to protest
17-Jun-2004
Around 1,500 farmers from 10 dairy co-operatives will gather at Kasetsart University today to repeat their call for the government to withdraw dairy products from the free-trade agreement with Australia.
Aus-NZ Closer Economic Relations: Sutton welcomes proposal to liberalise CER rules
11-Jun-2004
Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton today welcomed a new report saying rules governing trans-Tasman trade should be liberalised as they are too restrictive.
China-Australia: Free trade foreplay to speed up
26-May-2004
Australia and China have agreed to accelerate overtures that could lead to a free-trade agreement, after talks between Trade Minister Mark Vaile and top-ranking Chinese ministers in Beijing.
Prescriptions may rise 30% under FTA: academic
26-May-2004
The free trade agreement with the United States would lead to Australians paying 30 per cent more for prescription drugs, a leading American academic warned today.
FTA undermines principle of affordable drugs for all
25-May-2004 FTA undermines principle of affordable drugs for all
The Australian Senate should delay implementing legislation for the Free Trade Agreement with the US. Countries such as Brazil and Thailand, with large generic pharmaceutical industries, are looking to Australia for leadership in countering this US bilateral push for global uniformly of high pharmaceutical prices through aggressive intellectual property (IP) protection.
PICTA, PACER and EPAs: Where are we going?
7-May-2004 SIDSnet
It has been a relatively easy matter for Pacific Islands Country (PIC) governments to sign regional trade agreements such as PICTA (Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement - excluding Australia and New Zealand) and PACER (Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations - including Australia and NZ.)
Thailand Trade Talks with Australia Wraps Up
21-Apr-2004
Thailand and Australia have completed talks on establishing a bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreement, and the pact will go before the Thai cabinet for approval within the next two weeks, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal.
Australia, China FTA talks progressing rapidly
13-Mar-2004
Talks on a free trade agreement between Australia and China are moving faster than was anticipated, foreign minister Alexander Downer said today.