Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement
General Guidance on Preparing Submissions
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is calling for public submissions and comments on issues relevant to an Australia–Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Stakeholder submissions will assist the Australian Government in developing priorities for the negotiations on a bilateral FTA.
Submissions can take several forms – from a short email through to a lengthy analytical paper. They may build on or refer to submissions made to DFAT during the joint government study on a bilateral FTA. Authors of submissions should advise whether they authorise for their name and/or the text of their submission to be posted on the DFAT website.
In informing Australia's priorities it would be helpful if submissions identified any specific market access or other issues that affect two-way trade and investment with Japan.
In terms of goods trade, market access issues might include: tariffs; tariff rate quotas; the role of importing state trading enterprises; import licensing; technical regulations and standards; customs administration; and quarantine requirements.
In the case of services trade, stakeholder views might cover issues relating to specific tradeable services; issues relating to the recognition of qualifications and granting of licences to practise one's profession; and, business mobility issues such as provisions for people to work in Japan.
Stakeholder views on the costs and benefits of removing tariffs and any other measures affecting imports of goods and services from Japan are also sought.
In the area of investment, stakeholder views might cover any measures that may impact on investment and the establishment of a commercial presence in Japan. Stakeholders may also wish to provide similar views on Japanese investment in the Australian economy.
We would welcome stakeholder views on measures that reinforce the role of the market and in doing so enhance the security of supply of minerals, energy and food products from Australia to Japan.
On other issues, we would welcome stakeholder views on issues relating to doing business in Japan which cut across sectors, such as intellectual property, transparency of government regulations, government tendering processes, or competition policy issues related to gaining entry to Japanese markets.
More information on Australia–Japan Free Trade Agreement