Trade has always been at the forefront of Australian’s foreign policy, but never more so than in this era of globalisation.
Australia has a range of bilateral trade agreements with individual countries. It is also involved in a range of multilateral agreements with groups or regions of nations.
A particular emphasis in recent years has been the signing of free trade agreements.
- Composition of Australian Trade 2009-10 – DFAT booklet with comprehensive facts and figures, graphs and tables
- Trade Fast Facts (2003)
Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement
- Feb 09, 2004: Agreement Reached On Aust-USA Free Trade
- Feb 09, 2004: Australia Now Locked Into Growth: Howard On FTA
- Feb 09, 2004: Farmers Lobby Group ‘Very Disappointed’ With Aspects Of FTA
- Feb 09, 2004: ALP Attacks Government For Selling Out Australian Farmers – with audio of Latham and Conroy
- Feb 09, 2004: Beattie Says Free Trade Deal Is Betrayal Of Sugar Industry
DFAT Factsheets (PDF)
- Key Trade Statistics
- Overview
- Key Outcomes
- Agriculture
- Manufactured Goods
- Services
- Financial Services
- Government Procurement
- Intellectual Property
- Investment
- Health
- Audio Visual
- Automotive
- Competition Issues
- Telecommunications
- E-Commerce
- Rules of Origin
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
- Technical Regulations and Standards
- Environment and Labour
- Public Consultation
- Domestic Approval
- 2003: The World’s Largest Economies – Australia ranks 15th in a listing of national economies measured by GDP.
- 2003: 20th Anniversary of CER: Speech by Peter Costello
- 2003: Asia’s Role in Australia’s Future: Ian Macfarlane – a good speech by the Reserve Bank Governor containing useful statistics on the Australian economy in comparison to the rest of the world
- 2003: Minor Parties Oppose Free Trade Agreement
- Oct 16, 2002: Despite Bali, Stay Engaged With Asia: Costello – a good speech containing data on Australia’s trading arrangements with Asia.
- Aug 08, 2002: Australia Wins China LNG Contract
- 2002: Australia’s Trade With The Middle East – some interesting statistics on Australia’s exports to Iraq and the Middle East, compiled in the light of the US ‘war on terror’.
- 2001: Australia’s Relations With Japan – a speech by Prime Minister John Howard discussing Australia’s bilateral relationship with Japan
- 2000: Opening Markets – a document from DFAT that discusses the importance of liberalising Australia’s trading relations
- 1997: Closer Economic Relations (CER) With New Zealand -DFAT background guide to the Australia-New Zealand Economic Relationship.
Archived Posts
- Jun 26, 2019: Where We Live – Scott Morrison’s Asialink Address On Foreign Policy
- Jan 14, 2017: Turnbull Meets With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
- Sep 07, 2016: Chris Bowen: The Case For Openness
- Aug 17, 2016: Turnbull’s Economic Policy Speech To CEDA Disrupted By Refugee Protesters
- May 31, 2016: Labor’s Foreign Policy: Tanya Plibersek Speech To Lowy Institute
- Sep 09, 2014: Jingoistic, Xenophobic, Protectionist: Bill Shorten’s March To The Fringe In Speech To Submarine Workers
- Jul 08, 2014: Abbott Signs Free Trade Agreement With Japanese Prime Minister Abe
- Jul 08, 2014: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Addresses Australian Parliament
- Dec 05, 2013: Tony Abbott’s Weary Dunlop Speech To AsiaLink
- Dec 05, 2013: Australia Strikes Free Trade Agreement With South Korea (KAFTA)
- Jan 01, 2013: Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Comes Into Force
- Oct 28, 2012: Australia In The Asian Century: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Oct 28, 2012: Gillard Launches Asian Century White Paper
- Oct 09, 2012: Australia Becomes The World’s 12th Largest Economy
- Sep 14, 2012: Asia-Ready People, Asia-Ready Policies: Wayne Swan Speech
- Dec 15, 2010: Composition Of Australian Trade 2009-10
- Dec 10, 2010: The Future of Trade Policy in an Uncertain World: Emerson
- Oct 13, 2008: Rudd Meets With Vietnamese Prime Minister
- Sep 09, 2007: Howard Conducts APEC Final Press Conference; Questioned About Leadership
- Sep 06, 2007: John Howard Speech To APEC Forum In Sydney
- Feb 14, 2007: U.S. Ambassador Hasn’t Read ANZUS Treaty
- Oct 07, 2005: Australia’s Trade Performance: Speech by Kevin Rudd
- Jan 29, 2005: Howard Talks Of Trade, Plays Down Chances In Werriwa
- Jan 28, 2005: Howard Has Trade Talks With World Leaders In Davos
- Feb 09, 2004: Beattie Says Free Trade Deal Is Betrayal Of Sugar Industry
- Feb 09, 2004: ALP Attacks Government For Selling Out Australian Farmers In FTA
- Feb 09, 2004: Farmers Lobby Group ‘Very Disappointed’ With Aspects Of FTA
- Feb 09, 2004: Australia Now Locked Into Growth: Howard On FTA
- Feb 09, 2004: People And Parliament Still In The Dark On FTA: Democrats
- Feb 09, 2004: Agreement Reached On Australia-USA Free Trade Agreement
- Feb 09, 2004: Howard Defends Free Trade Agreement With U.S.
- Oct 24, 2003: Howard And Hu Sign Trade Deals
- Oct 24, 2003: Commonsense Relationship With China: Howard Welcomes Hu
- Oct 16, 2003: Asia’s Role In Australia’s Economic Future: Ian Macfarlane
- May 05, 2003: Minor Parties Oppose US Free Trade Agreement
- Mar 15, 2003: Trade Fast Facts
- Feb 20, 2003: Costello: Australia & New Zealand Siblings With A Common Heritage & A Shared Future
- Feb 12, 2003: Advancing The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Oct 16, 2002: Despite Bali, Stay Engaged With Asia: Costello
- Aug 08, 2002: Australia Wins China LNG Contract
- Jul 02, 2002: In Berlin, Howard Promotes Free Trade, Defends Refugee Policies
- Jul 02, 2002: In Europe, Howard Is Questioned On Refugees And Agricultural Subsidies
- Jul 01, 2002: Howard Arrives In Frankfurt; Says Free Trade More Important Than Foreign Aid
- Jun 21, 2002: Australia’s Trade With The Middle East
- Jun 08, 2002: Trade Issues On Agenda For Howard’s American Visit
- May 07, 2002: Downer On Advancing The National Interest: Australia’s Foreign Policy Challenge
- Apr 22, 2002: Australia And Asia: New Partnerships, New Directions – Speech by Simon Crean
- Mar 08, 2002: Australia And The US – Shared Interests: Speech By Alexander Downer
- Jul 26, 2001: Costello Defends Globalisation; Speech Stakes Out Election Position And Leadership Credentials
- Apr 29, 2001: John Howard Speech: Australia’s Relations With Japan
- Aug 25, 2000: George W. Bush Commits To Free Trade With Latin America
- Aug 01, 2000: Opening Markets: Does It Benefit Australia
- Dec 06, 1999: World Trade Talks Collapse; Australian Farmers Lose Out
- Jun 02, 1998: Pauline Hanson’s Speech to Parliament on the MAI
- Aug 31, 1997: In The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper
- Feb 28, 1997: Closer Economic Relations: Australian And New Zealand
- May 29, 1996: Australia And The USA – A Vital Friendship: Speech By Alexander Downer
