Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
D5 / 17
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is inviting public submissions and comment on issues relevant to the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and the UAE.
At the Australia-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission on 15 March 2005, the Trade Minister Mark Vaile and the UAE Minister for Economy and Planning, H.E. Sheikha Lubna bin Khalid Al-Qassimi, agreed that the two countries would enter negotiations for an FTA.
The UAE is an important economic partner, and Australia's second largest market in the Middle East. A comprehensive FTA would cover trade in goods and services, and investment.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) accords high priority to the views and expertise of all stakeholders with interests in the commercial relationship with the UAE and will consult throughout the negotiations.
As part of this process, it invites public submissions and comment on issues relevant to the negotiations by Friday 29 April 2005 . All submissions will be made publicly available on the DFAT website unless the authors specifically indicate that they do not wish this to occur. Submissions may be lodged electronically to uae-fta@dfat.gov.au or by post at the following address:
Australia-UAE FTA
Trade Development Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
BARTON ACT 0221
Telephone enquiries: (02) 6261 2484
Fax: (02) 6261 1385
Background information about Australia's trade with the UAE and the launch of negotiations.