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Australia

Schieffer aims to fix FTA impasse
4-Nov-2004
The United States ambassador to Australia has left for Washington in a final bid to work through details holding up the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Australia optimistic about free trade pact with China
2-Nov-2004 Channel News Asia
Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said negotiating an FTA with China would be "arguably more important" than the Australia-US free trade deal recently concluded and due to come into operation on January 1.
US concern poses threat to free trade deal
29-Oct-2004
The United States’ continuing concern about Australian laws is threatening to delay the countries’ free-trade agreement.
Australia may bow to pressure from US drug firms on FTA
22-Oct-2004 Asia Pulse
Prime Minister John Howard may bow to a concerted campaign by American drug companies against the amendments that the government was forced into accepting upon pressure from the Labor Party.
Fast track Australian FTA with China: farmers
13-Oct-2004 AAP
Australian grain growers, who stood to gain billions of dollars in new trade targeting the Chinese food and livestock sectors, are demanding that the federal government fast track a free trade deal with China.
Strange article lurking at back of FTA could bring nasty surprise
4-Oct-2004 Australia National University (ANU)
HIDDEN at the back of the 1000 page Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, is a strange article, numbered 21.2(c). Usually, in a legal document such as a treaty, dispute proceedings only arise if a party has breached a formal obligation in the text.
Bilateral & regional negotiations on agriculture: competitive liberalization or protectionist confusion?
4-Oct-2004 FQAEA
Synoptic review of what is happening with US trade talks on agriculture, outside the WTO
Thai dairy farmers make U-turn on FTA plan
28-Sep-2004 Bangkok Post
Key dairy farmers are making a U-turn in their FTA strategy and are now seeking financial, technical and marketing assistance from the big players Australia and New Zealand.
Leaders face challenge on trade threat to PBS
27-Sep-2004
Twenty leading medical and legal experts, and seven peak health and community services organisations, will send today an open letter to John Howard and Mark Latham demanding changes to the free trade agreement with the US before the agreement is ratified in late October.
Australian biotech industry sounds warning bells on FTA amendments
27-Sep-2004
Australia’s Biotechnology Industry Organisation representing over 2,000 Members, is deeply concerned at the potential unintended consequences and the uncertainty created by the proposed FTA amendments.
Entertainment Industry Coalition For Free Trade Hails U.S. - Australia Free Trade Agreement
22-Sep-2004 Entertainment Industry Coalition for Free Trade
The Entertainment Industry Coalition for Free Trade (EIC), a group of leading entertainment companies, trade associations and entertainment unions and guilds, today applauded the conclusion of the U.S. - Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Australian Bilateral Agreements and Higher Education
16-Sep-2004 NTEU
Australia is a party to a number of bilateral agreements with developing countries in the East Asian-South Pacific region. The agreements fall into two categories: comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements (BFTAs) and bilateral investment agreements (BIAs). Both types of agreements have implications for higher education, though only BFATs expressly deal with education services.
USCSI: US-Australia FTA to Open New Opportunities for US Service Sector
14-Sep-2004 US Coalition of Service Industries
The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) today announced its strong support for the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), noting that the agreement will open up new opportunities for US suppliers in a host of service industries.
Fear grows as FTA looms
9-Sep-2004
Canberra seems certain to press ahead with negotiations for a free trade agreement with China, possibly within a year, despite growing concerns from manufacturers.
Asean, Australia, New Zealand seek trade deal by 2007
7-Sep-2004
Southeast Asian nations, Australia and New Zealand hope to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) by 2007 after beginning formal negotiations next year, government ministers said on Sunday.
Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN agree to FTA talks next year
6-Sep-2004 Channel News Asia
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia and New Zealand agreed on Sunday to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement next year, Australia’s Trade Minister Mark Vaile said.
Megawati urges SE Asia to embrace FTA
3-Sep-2004
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has urged ASEAN to move ahead in forging free-trade agreements with non-members, including Australia.
Open source joins electioneering
1-Sep-2004
Within 24 hours of a federal election being called, Communications and IT minister Helen Coonan has swapped her contentious campaign to offshore government IT services for a warm and fuzzy embrace of home-grown open source software to woo the penguin vote.
FTA leaves us second among equals
1-Sep-2004 Australian IT
Access to the US market will be valuable, but Aussie consumers will lose, not gain, from the copyright provisions.
Bullying big pharma puts pressure on Australians
28-Aug-2004
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick’s warning to Australia that an amended free-trade agreement might conflict with the letter and spirit of the original agreement was prompted by bullying from the American pharmaceuticals industry, according to a US trade adviser.