Australia-India FTA Feasibility Study
Terms of Reference
- to identify the strategic and economic benefits that India and Australia can derive from the establishment of an FTA;
- to develop a comprehensive policy framework for enhancing the bilateral economic relationship, including by assessing the feasibility of achieving desired outcomes through a comprehensive FTA covering trade in goods, services, and investment; as well as other issues such as the protection of intellectual property rights (covering all issues including TRIPS & CBD, and GIs inclusive of non-food GIs), SPS & TBT matters, competition policy and government procurement;
- to review the existing institutional framework, infrastructure and mechanisms in bilateral trade, investment and economic relations to enhance closer cooperation and recommend measures to facilitate and optimise such cooperation;
- to expedite the expansion of trade in goods through liberalisation of tariffs, consistent with WTO principles, and removal of other impediments to trade;
- to expedite the expansion of trade in services, by liberalising trade in services, consistent with WTO principles, with substantial sectoral coverage including visas related to Mode-4, and MRA issues;
- to evolve an appropriate framework and modalities for investment cooperation with a view to creating a favourable climate for encouraging cross border investment flows;
- the JSG will be required to produce a Joint Report, with recommendations, for consideration by the Governments of India and Australia in the first half of 2009 or earlier.