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Australia

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership spells danger for 1.1 billion women
7-Jan-2020 John Menadue
Australia has yet to show any serious interest in recognising the potential negative impacts of trade policies on gender or take steps to systematically assess these. A gender equitable trade policy is possible. But it would look nothing like the RCEP.
First blow for post-Brexit Britain as Australia rejects trade deal
7-Jan-2020 The London Economic
Australia turned down the UK’s appeal for freedom of movement between the two countries.
The FTA between Peru and Australia will enter into force in February 2020
19-Dec-2019 Fresh Plaza
FTA between Peru and Australia will enter into force in February 2020, stated the head of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), Edgar Vasquez.
HKSAR, Australia to put in force free trade, investment agreements in January
18-Dec-2019 Xinhua Net
The Free Trade Agreement and Investment Agreement signed between China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Australia in March will enter into force on Jan. 17, 2020.
Upgrade the Australia-China FTA and share the prosperity of the Chinese fintech industry
11-Dec-2019 Australian Institute of International Affairs
Can the Australia-China trade deal facilitate Australian businesses and share the prosperity of Chinese FinTech industry? Answering this question requires looking into the chapters of investment, trade in services (especially financial service) and e-commerce.
Japan, Australia still hopeful of India’s rethink on RCEP
10-Dec-2019 The Hindu
Despite India’s decision to walk out of the ASEAN-led 15-nation RCEP Free Trade Agreement last month, officials from India’s Indo-Pacific partners Australia and Japan are still discussing the issue in the hope that the government will rethink the decision.
Rejecting RCEP preserved India’s milk self-sufficiency’
9-Dec-2019 Times of India
The decision of keeping India out of the Regional Comprehension Economic Partnership (RCEP) has helped crores of farmers and prevented the likely shift shift of India from a self-sufficient milk producer to importer.
India and Australia: Reciprocity, mutuality, and promise
9-Dec-2019 The Interpreter
India has long had a reputation in Australia as being a challenging negotiator that may not share the same enthusiasm for concluding free trade agreements.
Australia to fight Europe on climate demands in free-trade deal
29-Nov-2019 Sydney Morning Herald
Climate change targets are shaping to be a major sticking point in trade negotiations with Europe after France publicly tied Australia’s domestic action on climate change to the proposed FTA.
By the way: what’s free about free trade?
25-Nov-2019 The Jakarta Post
The very idea of a free trade agreement is a contradiction. You don’t need a complex agreement to trade freely.
Interview with Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG)
14-Nov-2019 bilaterals.org
In this interview, we discuss the PACER+ trade deal, the post Cotonou talks with the EU and the influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Pacific region.
Australia still in the cold while NZ lands plum trade deal with China
7-Nov-2019 The Sydney Morning Herald
Australian businesses in China have praised a New Zealand trade deal which overcomes prohibitive red tape and any unofficial go-slow at Chinese ports that can plague Australian exporters.
RCEP agreement no guarantee of increased Australian exports to ASEAN countries
7-Nov-2019 Future Directions International
In the short- and medium- terms, however, it seems unlikely that those additional rules will facilitate any significant increase in Australian exports to ASEAN.
Free trade agreements are often ignored by business. So why has Australia signed a new one?
6-Nov-2019 ABC News
FTAs can be downright harmful. These agreements often include clauses that deliver power to foreign corporations to launch legal action against democratically elected governments on decisions they believe harm their commercial interests.
New rules on IP rights and e-commerce to be set under RCEP free trade agreement
5-Nov-2019 ZD Net
A common set of rules on intellectual property (IP) and e-commerce and a new scope of trade for telecommunication services are among some of the expected benefits that will arise from the RCEP agreement when it is signed next year.
Giant RCEP regional trade deal text without India must be released and evaluated before signing says AFTINET
5-Nov-2019 AFTINET
India’s departure from the RCEP announced yesterday in Bangkok is not only caused by India’s resistance to lower tariffs. There is a hidden agenda of non-tariff issues that could restrict future government regulation by giving more rights to global corporations.
Why Australia and India haven’t settled an FTA yet
30-Oct-2019 The Diplomat
It has been more than eight years since Australia and India began negotiations on a free trade deal, but the two countries have yet to reach a settlement that both New Delhi and Canberra feel comfortable with.
Trade agreements pre-empt sissent: An interview with AFTINET’s Dr Patricia Ranald
30-Oct-2019 Sydney Criminal Lawyers
Interview with AFTINET convenor Dr Patricia Ranald about how the ISDS regime developed, the reasons why these mechanisms are so detrimental, and the impact the TPP-11 agreement could have on Australia.
AFTINET fears that assurances sought by Labor will not prevent harmful impacts from Indonesia and other trade deals
21-Oct-2019 AFTINET
Organisations representing millions of Australians wrote to Labor MPs last week asking them to implement their policies against harmful proposals including special rights for foreign investors to sue governments for millions over domestic laws.
Trio of free-trade deals before parliament
16-Oct-2019 7 News
The Morrison government hopes to pass legislation cobbling together three free-trade deals within months. Draft legislation to lock in trade pacts with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru was introduced to parliament on Wednesday.