Trade

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