ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA
Subscriber Update
Update 2- 22 July 2005
Second Round of Negotiations
ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand trade officials met for the second round of FTA negotiations in Auckland from 29 June - 1 July 2005. The Australian delegation was led by Mr Michael Mugliston, Head of the Asia Trade Task Force.
Having established a structure for the negotiations in the initial meetings, this meeting began substantive discussions on key areas of the FTA negotiations, with four issue-specific working groups (on rules of origin, services, investment and legal issues) meeting for the first time.
At this stage in the negotiations, all sides are focused on gaining a detailed understanding of each others’ trade regimes and their respective FTA negotiating experiences.
After the first full round held in Manila in March this year, parties provided each other with detailed information on their respective trade regimes.
Negotiators carefully considered this information at the Auckland meeting and agreed that further data was required. The meeting agreed to exchange additional information on tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, as well as information on our respective services and investment regimes. This will prepare us for the negotiation of preferential concessions down the track. It also allowed negotiators to commence discussions on the full range of issues to be addressed in the negotiations.
Negotiators agreed that for the next meeting, further and more detailed discussions would continue to take place within the established working groups, as well as within separate meetings of experts on particular issues such as intellectual property.
Although Australia and New Zealand are negotiating as separate parties to this agreement, trade officials are consulting closely and regularly. Our preparations for the Auckland meeting, which included the development of working papers and presentations, reinforced our common positions on many issues and our commitment to delivering a comprehensive FTA, covering goods, services and investment.
Negotiating Schedule
The next round of negotiations is scheduled to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 18-20 August 2005. Negotiators will meet in Expert and Working Group meetings on goods, economic cooperation, rules of origin, services, legal and institutional issues, and intellectual property and will agree on work plans and timeframes to progress the negotiations.
Submissions and Comment
To date, over 130 submissions have been received from industry, states and territories, NGOs and community groups - including some made as part of the Malaysia-Australia FTA and Scoping Study processes. The submissions have highlighted important areas for consideration in our negotiations, and provided detailed information on the barriers and other issues related to Australia’s trade and investment with ASEAN countries.
Industry and public comment will continue to play an important role in the development of Australia’s position on key issues in the negotiations. The Asia Trade Task Force encourages all stakeholders to make a contribution. Contributions can take the form of either a formal submission or more informal comment on product or sector specific barriers faced in ASEAN member countries and other issues relating to the FTA. Informal and formal submissions can be sent to:
E-mail: asean_fta@dfat.gov.au
Fax: (02) 6261 3541
Post: Asia Trade Task Force
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R. G. Casey Building,
John McEwen Crescent
BARTON ACT 0221
For general enquiries about the FTA process, you can also call the Asia Trade Task Force on (02) 6261 2956.
Public Consultations
Throughout the negotiations, members of the Asia Trade Task Force and other senior DFAT officials will be meeting with representatives of Australian businesses, State Governments, unions, NGOs, community groups and individuals across the country in relation to the ASEAN-ANZ FTA negotiations. Meetings have been held in all States and Territories.
To find out about participating in future consultations email the Task Force: asean_fta@dfat.gov.au or call (02) 6261 2956.
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More information on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA