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Australia

Aussie plea on US trade restrictions
29-Jan-2009
Australian officials are intensively lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reconsider new "Buy American" provisions that were attached to the $US819 billion ($1.25 trillion) stimulus package passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, amid fears that they will usher in a new era of protectionism and harm Australia’s steel exports to the US.
Crucial ASEAN bills pass in rowdy house session
28-Jan-2009 The Nation
Thai lawmakers yesterday approved a total of 41 crucial Asean agreements after a stormy House session was suspended twice due to heated debates. Among the pacts were free-trade agreements between Asean and India, China and Australia & New Zealand.
Canberra pins hope on Asean FTA
23-Jan-2009 Business Mirror
Canberra has expressed hopes that member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will sign a comprehensive free-trade agreement (FTA) with Australia-New Zealand—already completed—that seeks to loosen restrictions on trade and improve investments.
Food export potential to Korea highlighted with largest organic deal
23-Jan-2009 AFN
Hakubaku Australia has completed the largest ever export deal for Australian-made organic retail products into Korea with a $300,000 shipment of organic somen noodles to leading Korean food brand Sajo Haepyo, with the assistance of Austrade. This represents the second largest retail coverage for any Australian-made product behind Australian beef and shows the potential impacts of the proposed Australia-Korea FTA.
Indonesia delays free trade deals with Oz, NZ
31-Dec-2008 Jakarta Post
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has delayed signing a trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, due to be inked this month, until March next year, a senior official said Monday.
Australia-Korea free trade agreement preparatory talks conclude
21-Dec-2008 The Hon Simon Crean MP
Australia and Korea have concluded preparatory talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
FTAs badly failing Australia
17-Dec-2008 Rethinking globalisation
The Australian Parliamentary Library has released a background note analysing Australia’s bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) which shows how clearly destructive they have been (although the analysis is only from an economic perspective).
Aust to sign Asean FTA
16-Dec-2008 Nation
Australia will today sign a free-trade agreement with Asean to stimulate trade, services and investment growth.
Indonesian chefs, teachers ready to fill New Zealand market
29-Nov-2008
Local skilled workers will have a chance next year to try their luck in New Zealand, which has agreed to open up to Indonesian workers as part of a free trade agreement (FTA).
Turkey in the straw
28-Nov-2008 Watermelon Blog
I rarely go into town these days, and when I have to I try to make the trip worthwhile by doing as many things as I can while I’m there. Kevin Rudd obviously thinks the same way, because when he goes off to these conferences overseas he tries to pack a lot in.
Is Australia genuine about a "new approach" to the Pacific?
25-Nov-2008 AidWatch
The Rudd government has made much of its ’new approach’ to Australia’s island neighbours, but the view from the Pacific — especially of the aggressive pursuit of a new free trade deal as part of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) — is that not much has changed.
Australia, Peru to join in trans-pacific FTA talks with member countries
24-Nov-2008 CNA
Singapore, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and the US have warmly welcomed the announcement by Australia and Peru that they intend to join negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP).
Free trade deal set to expand-Aus wants in
20-Nov-2008
The free trade agreement begun by New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Brunei - known as the P4 - two years ago is set to expand even further with two more countries , Australia and Peru, as well as the United States wanting to join.
Victoria accused of breaching US free trade deak
19-Nov-2008
The Victorian Government has been accused of breaking Australia’s free trade agreement with the US through its "protectionist" new industry policy, which gives local suppliers an advantage over foreign competitors.
Chile free trade deal under fire
19-Nov-2008 Weekly Times
Australian horticulturalists have launched a scathing attack on the Federal Government following its vote to allow free trade with Chile.
Australia and China to speed up free trade deal talks
18-Nov-2008 The Australian
Kevin Rudd said he could not set a deadline for the completion of an FTA with China, but that the depth of the financial crisis had hardened their mutual determination to seal a deal.
Australia seeks free trade deal with GCC
5-Nov-2008
Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has reaffirmed the need to initiate talks for a free trade agreement between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Australia.
‘Need to make some adjustments for India-Australia FTA’
19-Oct-2008
India-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) offers India “another opportunity to move the economy into greater efficiency by narrowing trade barriers and increasing access by outsiders to Indian economy,” though this entails some initial adjustment costs.
Govt urged to outline aims before signing FTA
16-Oct-2008
The Federal Parliament’s treaties committee has called for the Government to set out its objectives before entering into negotiations on any future Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
’India, Australia need to make adjustments for FTA’
16-Oct-2008
Both India and Australia will have to make "adjustments" for reaching at a market-opening Free Trade Agreement, a senior Australian official said on Wednesday.