Learn about the customs results and rules of origin of Australia`s Free Trade Agreement on the CAFFTA online portal. The free trade agreement has opened markets for services such as life insurance and express deliveries, improved intellectual property protections, and helped facilitate U.S. investment through predictable access and a stable business environment. For the first time, U.S. companies in many industries are now allowed to compete on a non-discriminatory basis for Australian government purchases. U.S. agricultural exports receive duty-free treatment, including processed foods, fruits and vegetables, corn and soybeans. The FTA has also made progress in e-commerce and market access for pharmaceuticals. · Promotes the development of an online system for the registration and maintenance of trademarks and a searchable database.
Although Australia is not always as well-known as free trade agreements, it vigorously pursues its national interests in bilateral, regional and multilateral trade and investment forums, including the OECD, G20 and APEC. · Both Parties reaffirm their obligations as members of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and shall endeavour to ensure that their national laws provide for labour standards in accordance with internationally recognized labour principles. The agreement specifies that it is inappropriate to weaken or reduce national health and safety at work in order to promote trade or investment between the parties. Free trade agreements (FTAs) are international agreements that remove or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment between two or more countries. Australia currently has free trade agreements with more than 20 countries and is keen to negotiate and implement additional agreements. · The focus is on promoting compliance through consultations, joint action plans and trade-enhancing remedies. Liberalising trade and investment agreements – whether bilateral, regional or multilateral – will bring Australia more prosperity in the form of stronger economic growth and more jobs than they would otherwise be. A study by the Centre for International Economics found that the average income of Australian households in 2016 was more than $8,000 higher than it would have been if it had not been during three decades of trade liberalization by successive Australian governments. The same study found that 1 in 5 jobs in Australia depend on trade and 1 in 7 jobs in Australia depend on exports. Annual trade in goods and services with Australia is about $28 billion, and the United States has a trade surplus of $9 billion with Australia. Australia is the 9th largest commodity export market in the United States** Consider the European Union as a unique export destination. A better solution than protectionism is to include in trade agreements provisions that protect against inconvenience.
· Requires both parties to authorize the seizure, confiscation and destruction of counterfeit and pirated goods and the equipment used to manufacture them. Also provides for the enforcement of the Goods in Transit Act to prevent violators from using ports or free zones to trade in pirated goods. In border and criminal matters, measures can be taken ex officio, which ensures more effective enforcement. · An innovative enforcement mechanism includes fines to enforce trade, labour and environmental obligations under the trade agreement. The Free Trade Advantage online platform brings together a range of practical advice and resources to help Australian businesses access the benefits of Australian free trade agreements. · Both sides pledge to create a high level of environmental protection and not to weaken or reduce environmental laws in order to attract trade and investment. There is sometimes some question about whether Australian businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, use free trade agreements. A report published by PwC on the use of free trade agreements concluded that Australian companies enjoy the tariff reduction benefits of our free trade agreements, particularly in our agreements with China, Japan and Korea. The report found that 95% of Australian exports to Japan that were eligible for a lower tariff under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement benefited from the lower tariff rate.
Free trade agreements have also had a positive impact on business confidence, strategy, expansion planning and international investment. · Requires transparent procedures for the registration of trademarks, including geographical indications. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia will establish a permanent technical working group, including representation from trade agencies, to review the development of scientific measures that affect trade between the two countries at the earliest possible stage of each country`s regulatory process. The World Trade Organization (WTO) remains the foundation of Australia`s trade policy. Australia continues to work with other WTO members on the post-Doha Round negotiating agenda. Australia also relies heavily on existing WTO rules and other core WTO functions, such as the dispute settlement system, to maintain a predictable and stable global trading environment. .