bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Australia

In the last two years the Australian Government has finalised bilateral trade agreements with China, Korea and Japan, which are now in force. The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries has been agreed, but is being reviewed by a Parliamentary committees before Parliament votes on the implementing legislation. The TPP will not come into force until six of the 12 countries including the US and Japan pass the implementing legislation, which is expected to take two years.

The current conservative Coalition government has agreed to include Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in the Korea and China bilateral FTAs as well as the TPP. ISDS allows foreign companies to bypass national courts and sue governments for compensation if they can argue that a change in law or policy harms their investment. The previous Labor government had a policy against ISDS, and even a previous Coalition government did not include ISDS in the Australia-US free trade agreement in 2004.

There is widespread opposition in the Australian community to the inclusion of ISDS in the TPP. The TPP is also controversial because it extends monopoly rights on expensive life-saving biologic medicines, which will mean more years of very high prices before cheaper versions become available. There are also grave concerns about its impacts on food labelling standards and expanded access for temporary workers without additional protection of workers’ rights. A recent World Bank study found that Australia was only likely to gain almost no economic benefit from the deal.

Australia is currently involved in multilateral negotiations towards the PACER-plus agreement with New Zealand and 14 Pacific Island countries, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA). It is also negotiating bilateral trade agreements with India and Indonesia and will begin talks with Hong Kong and Taiwan later this year and the EU next year.

Contributed by AFTINET

last update: May 2016
Photo: AFTINET


Meta says Australia’s anti-defamation laws are at odds with FTAs
Australia’s proposed anti-defamation laws seek to require social media platforms to establish nominated Australian entities that can access user data for users who post potential defamatory material
Australia and India: A time to refocus on trade talks
In a drastically changed geopolitical scenario, developments in the Indo-Pacific, have brought Australia and India closer together as Comprehensive Strategic Partners.
Publication of Australia-UK FTA Agreement in Principle and exclusion of ISDS welcome, but still much we don’t know
The agreement in-principle does not give detailed information about the up to 30 chapters which are still being negotiated behind closed doors, and the full text will not be released until after it is signed.
Australia and UK finalise free trade deal
Australia Prime Minister has hailed a free trade deal with the United Kingdom as the most comprehensive and ambitious in Australia’s history announced the deal on Tuesday after sealing an in-principle agreement over dinner overnight.
Final UK FTA talks on corporate rights to sue governments alarm community groups
We call on the Australian Government to exclude ISDS from the Australia-UK FTA as has been done in the Australia-EU FTA and the RCEP.
Services, investment key in UK trade pact
Services and investment are "huge" for Australia’s imminent trade pact with the United Kingdom, Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.
Human rights groups call on Australia to drop pursuit of Israel trade deal over Palestine conflict
Australian and Palestinian human rights groups have urged Australia to stop pursuing a potential free trade agreement with Israel and condemn its actions in Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Trade minister Dan Tehan says free trade deal with UK ready by June
Australian Trade minister has departed Britain promising an in-principle trade deal with the United Kingdom by June.
Can an Australia–India FTA succeed where RCEP failed?
Having secured free trade agreements (FTAs) with almost all key trading partners, Australia is honing in on a long elusive but lucrative market — India. Tensions with China, the need to find new sources of economic growth and government policy to diversify trading partners are pushing Australia into India’s arms.
Australia eyes new trade deal with Israel, focusing on cyber security, innovation
Australia will turn its attention towards clinching a trade agreement with Israel. A similar feasibility study to scope the benefits of beginning trade negotiations with European Free Trade Association countries.