ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA
Subscriber Update
Update 5 - 1 November 2005
Fourth Round of Negotiations
The fourth round of negotiations on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA was held in Canberra from 26-28 October 2005.
Over 110 delegates attended from the 10 ASEAN countries - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - as well as delegates from Australia and New Zealand.
The negotiations followed only three weeks after the 10 th ASEAN Economic Ministers - Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) meeting in Laos attended by Australia's then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mr Mark Vaile.
Trade negotiators used the Canberra meeting to set in action the decisions taken by Ministers in Vientiane. More issues moved to the substantive negotiating phase and detailed work plans were established to guide the next 12 months of the negotiations.
The negotiations took place in working group meetings on goods, rules of origin, services, investment, legal and institutional issues and economic cooperation. Other trade-related issues were also discussed by lead negotiators, including intellectual property and competition policy.
Key outcomes of the negotiations included:
- On trade in goods, negotiators discussed in detail the possible modalities for tariff reduction and elimination. Further discussion will take place on these issues in an informal meeting of Lead Negotiators in early February.
- Negotiators discussed the possible structure and content of the services chapter in the FTA. Negotiators also explored options to take forward the negotiations in specific services areas, including financial services, telecommunications and movement of natural persons.
- Good progress was also made on possible elements for inclusion in an investment chapter. These issues will be explored further in a workshop to be hosted by Australia for trade negotiators and policy officials in February in Singapore.
- Negotiators discussed legal and institutional issues related to the FTA, and considered possible provisions to be included in a dispute settlement chapter.
- Australia will deliver workshops for officials from ASEAN countries on negotiating free trade agreements, rules of origin and investment. The workshops will be held prior to the next negotiating round and will assist substantive discussion to continue in key areas of the negotiations.
During their time in Canberra, trade negotiators met with representatives from Australian industry. Mr Peter Hendy, Chief Executive, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also addressed delegates on Australian industry's views on the FTA negotiations and the importance of a high quality outcome to business.
The next negotiating round will be held from 4-7 April 2006 in New Zealand.
More information on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA