Free Trade Deal Between Us And Australia
RyoOhki
Join Date: 2003-01-26 Member: 12789Members
Join Date: 2003-01-26 Member: 12789Members
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">Your thoughts please</div> Recently a trade agreement between Australia and the United States was hammered out, and now it only awaits Congressional approval. Info about it can be found <a href='http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8625323%255E421,00.html' target='_blank'>here</a> along with the thoughts of the Federal Opposition.
The major points are as follows:
For Australia:
Immediate access to US market for almost all manufactured goods and services exports
Improved access for agricultural sector including beef and dairy producers
Full access to Australian goods and services in US government procurement
Protections for Australian health services and environment
The right to ensure local content in Australian broadcasting retained
Duty free access to metal and mineral exports
Immediate removal of tariffs on canned tuna, worth $US20 million ($A26.3 million) dollars a year
Zero tariffs for wheat and cereal flour and within four years for some fruit
For the United States:
99 per cent of US manufactured exports to Australia immediately duty free
Benefits for US chemicals, auto, plastics and infotech sectors
All agricultural exports to Australia, worth $US400 million ($A526.3 million), to go duty free
Australia to open service access, including telecommunications, express delivery and computers
Australia to adjust Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme
US contractors to get access to Australian government procurement
I just wanted to get the thoughts of various people, including our US friends, on this deal. Though I'm not exactly taking a side, I will say that many Australian farmers are not happy about this deal as much of the US agricultural market remains heavily protected: <a href='http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8627246%255E421,00.html' target='_blank'>Aussie farmers annoyed</a> The fact that protective tariffs have not been broken down and some markets remain inaccessable has prompted many to refer to this as simply a trade agreement, not a Free Trade Agreement as it was heralded by both Bush and Howard.
So, what does everyone think about this deal?
The major points are as follows:
For Australia:
Immediate access to US market for almost all manufactured goods and services exports
Improved access for agricultural sector including beef and dairy producers
Full access to Australian goods and services in US government procurement
Protections for Australian health services and environment
The right to ensure local content in Australian broadcasting retained
Duty free access to metal and mineral exports
Immediate removal of tariffs on canned tuna, worth $US20 million ($A26.3 million) dollars a year
Zero tariffs for wheat and cereal flour and within four years for some fruit
For the United States:
99 per cent of US manufactured exports to Australia immediately duty free
Benefits for US chemicals, auto, plastics and infotech sectors
All agricultural exports to Australia, worth $US400 million ($A526.3 million), to go duty free
Australia to open service access, including telecommunications, express delivery and computers
Australia to adjust Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme
US contractors to get access to Australian government procurement
I just wanted to get the thoughts of various people, including our US friends, on this deal. Though I'm not exactly taking a side, I will say that many Australian farmers are not happy about this deal as much of the US agricultural market remains heavily protected: <a href='http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8627246%255E421,00.html' target='_blank'>Aussie farmers annoyed</a> The fact that protective tariffs have not been broken down and some markets remain inaccessable has prompted many to refer to this as simply a trade agreement, not a Free Trade Agreement as it was heralded by both Bush and Howard.
So, what does everyone think about this deal?
Comments
Makes me wonder who really runs this country.
Oh, and a little note.
Sugar => Sugar Cane => Warm Climate => Florida => Close call for Bush earlier on => "Screw the Aussie Farmers! I need votes and I'm gonna get em!"
I may be biased and slightly anti-american sometimes but that in no way denies me the right to my opinion, or from making a valid point.
{Edit} Changed the wording of the last sentence to A: Make more sense and B: Come in line with my actual views.
Will it make computer parts cheaper? Will it make fuel dearer? Will we get better internet? Will McDonalds taste better?
Hrm... Scratch that last one.
--Scythe--
Will we get better internet?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, I don't know much about the intricacies, but these sections:
99 per cent of US manufactured exports to Australia immediately duty free
Benefits for US chemicals, auto, plastics and infotech sectors
Australia to open service access, including telecommunications, express delivery and computers
seem to indicate that we might be getting better comps and net. Which is a good thing from my perspective.
Introduce toads to my country yah bast4rds - TAKE THIS!
It is not so much to get a better deal, as to promote and try and get the ball rolling for the concept and implementation of Free Trade.
Australia [NSW, really.] is trying to kickstart the Free Trade idea, and get it accepted around the world. This is a big head start, and will hopefully see other countries and nations mirroring it around the world.
Although, I have to admit, I don't know more than a Year 9 understanding of it, and even then I didn't pay much attention, but it [apparently <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->] is a noble quest, and an agreement between USA and AUS will go far to help it.
So don't worry too much about how the immediate changes directly affect you, think more about how Free Trade as a concept could help the world.
Personally, I think it's time somebody took some action, and although we may not be better off in the short-term, if it kicks off, everybody will be better off in the long run.
So spread the word, as it doesn't matter so much about the specific conditions of it, but that it is happening. Take note, rest of world!