Australia and New Zealand have agreed on a series of actions to foster closer collaboration on trade and investment promotion to global markets.Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean said it was an important next step in building on the success of the trans-Tasman trade and economic partnership. “This series of bilateral initiatives is designed to accelerate economic integration between our two countries. “Following meetings between Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Key last year,... ...Read more »

The free trade agreement with ASEAN countries, which came into effect this week, offers little benefit to Australian producers while removing all tariffs on food imported into Australia, according to the leader of The Nationals and Shadow Trade Minister, Warren Truss.”This free trade agreement is an alarming example of what Labor is prepared to concede to get a seat at a treaty signing ceremony,” Mr Truss contended. “AANZFTA may well be the first trade agreement Australia has signed... ...Read more »

Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean yesterday welcomed the commencement of Australia’s largest free trade agreement – the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), with food exporters likely to be among the lead beneficiaries. The historic agreement will span 12 economies with over 600 million people and a combined GDP of $3.1 trillion. “The commencement of this agreement is a major milestone and opens up significant opportunities for Australian businesses in one... ...Read more »

Federal Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, has joined Trade Ministers from the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand in signing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).This represents the largest FTA Australia has ever signed and will reduce or eliminate tariffs across a region that is home to 600 million people and has an annual GDP of A$3.2 trillion. Australia’s two-way trade with the ASEAN region is worth $80 billion a year... ...Read more »