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
- Australia Joins 11 Countries In Condemning Houthi Attacks in Red Sea January 4, 2024
- Where We Live – Scott Morrison’s Asialink Address On Foreign Policy June 26, 2019
- Turnbull Meets With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe January 14, 2017
- Chris Bowen: The Case For Openness September 7, 2016
- Turnbull’s Economic Policy Speech To CEDA Disrupted By Refugee Protesters August 17, 2016
- Labor’s Foreign Policy: Tanya Plibersek Speech To Lowy Institute May 31, 2016
- Jingoistic, Xenophobic, Protectionist: Bill Shorten’s March To The Fringe In Speech To Submarine Workers September 9, 2014
- Abbott Signs Free Trade Agreement With Japanese Prime Minister Abe July 8, 2014
- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Addresses Australian Parliament July 8, 2014
- Tony Abbott’s Weary Dunlop Speech To AsiaLink December 5, 2013
- Australia Strikes Free Trade Agreement With South Korea (KAFTA) December 5, 2013
- Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Comes Into Force January 1, 2013
- Australia In The Asian Century: Foreign Policy White Paper October 28, 2012
- Gillard Launches Asian Century White Paper October 28, 2012
- Australia Becomes The World’s 12th Largest Economy October 9, 2012
- Asia-Ready People, Asia-Ready Policies: Wayne Swan Speech September 14, 2012
- Composition Of Australian Trade 2009-10 December 15, 2010
- The Future of Trade Policy in an Uncertain World: Emerson December 10, 2010
- Rudd Meets With Vietnamese Prime Minister October 13, 2008
- Howard Conducts APEC Final Press Conference; Questioned About Leadership September 9, 2007
- John Howard Speech To APEC Forum In Sydney September 6, 2007
- U.S. Ambassador Hasn’t Read ANZUS Treaty February 14, 2007
- Australia’s Trade Performance: Speech by Kevin Rudd October 7, 2005
- Howard Talks Of Trade, Plays Down Chances In Werriwa January 29, 2005
- Howard Has Trade Talks With World Leaders In Davos January 28, 2005
- Beattie Says Free Trade Deal Is Betrayal Of Sugar Industry February 9, 2004
- ALP Attacks Government For Selling Out Australian Farmers In FTA February 9, 2004
- Farmers Lobby Group ‘Very Disappointed’ With Aspects Of FTA February 9, 2004
- Australia Now Locked Into Growth: Howard On FTA February 9, 2004
- People And Parliament Still In The Dark On FTA: Democrats February 9, 2004
- Agreement Reached On Australia-USA Free Trade Agreement February 9, 2004
- Howard Defends Free Trade Agreement With U.S. February 9, 2004
- Howard And Hu Sign Trade Deals October 24, 2003
- Commonsense Relationship With China: Howard Welcomes Hu October 24, 2003
- Asia’s Role In Australia’s Economic Future: Ian Macfarlane October 16, 2003
- Minor Parties Oppose US Free Trade Agreement May 5, 2003
- Trade Fast Facts March 15, 2003
- Costello: Australia & New Zealand Siblings With A Common Heritage & A Shared Future February 20, 2003
- Advancing The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper February 12, 2003
- Despite Bali, Stay Engaged With Asia: Costello October 16, 2002
- Australia Wins China LNG Contract August 8, 2002
- In Berlin, Howard Promotes Free Trade, Defends Refugee Policies July 2, 2002
- In Europe, Howard Is Questioned On Refugees And Agricultural Subsidies July 2, 2002
- Howard Arrives In Frankfurt; Says Free Trade More Important Than Foreign Aid July 1, 2002
- Australia’s Trade With The Middle East June 21, 2002
- Trade Issues On Agenda For Howard’s American Visit June 8, 2002
- Downer On Advancing The National Interest: Australia’s Foreign Policy Challenge May 7, 2002
- Australia And Asia: New Partnerships, New Directions – Speech by Simon Crean April 22, 2002
- Australia And The US – Shared Interests: Speech By Alexander Downer March 8, 2002
- Costello Defends Globalisation; Speech Stakes Out Election Position And Leadership Credentials July 26, 2001
- John Howard Speech: Australia’s Relations With Japan April 29, 2001
- George W. Bush Commits To Free Trade With Latin America August 25, 2000
- Opening Markets: Does It Benefit Australia August 1, 2000
- World Trade Talks Collapse; Australian Farmers Lose Out December 6, 1999
- Pauline Hanson’s Speech to Parliament on the MAI June 2, 1998
- In The National Interest: Foreign Policy White Paper August 31, 1997
- Closer Economic Relations: Australian And New Zealand February 28, 1997
- Australia And The USA – A Vital Friendship: Speech By Alexander Downer May 29, 1996
