The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has signed a free trade agreement with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
The agreement is called The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA). It ensures that more than 97% of Australia’s exports to Japan will receive preferential access or enter duty-free.
The signing followed this morning’s speech by Abe to a joint sitting of the Parliament. [Read more…]
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has addressed the Australian Parliament in Canberra today.
Abe and Prime Minister Tony Abbott both spoke to a joint sitting of the two houses in the House of Representatives. Abe’s delivered his speech in English, which is being interpreted as a high compliment from the Japanese.
Abbott told the House: “Since 1957, Australian coal, iron ore and gas has powered Japan’s prosperity; and Japanese cars, consumer goods and electronics have transformed Australians’ lives. Australians are grateful for the Japanese trade and Japanese investment that has helped to build our modern prosperity. Above all, we appreciate the mutual respect and trust that has underpinned the commercial relationship. [Read more…]
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, will leave Australia at the end of this week to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Abbott came under criticism today for linking the D-Day anniversary with the government’s economic policies. In his weekly video message and a media release, Abbott says: “We stood together at D-Day, we trade every day and we have always shared a commitment to democracy, to enterprise and to people’s right to be free.”
The Prime Minister’s website subsequently posted a second media release with a different emphasis. [Read more…]
Australia has concluded a Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Korea, the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, announced today.
South Korea is Australia’s fourth-largest trading partner and third-largest goods export market.
The KAFTA agreement will eliminate tariffs on major exports to Korea, such as beef, wheat, dairy, sugar, wine, seafood, grapes, cherries and mangoes. It will open up new markets in education, telecommunications, financial accounting and the law.
Opposition Bill Shorten has welcomed the agreement.
Details of Australia’s trading arrangements with Korea are shown below. [Read more…]