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Australia seeks zero tariffs on farm trade
17 Mar 2003
Australia is pushing for zero trade barriers on agricultural exports to the US as part of a free trade agreement. A team of officials from both Australia and the US will begin laying out the framework on March 17 for the negotiations.
Australian negotiator Stephen Deady said that any deal will have to satisfy Article 24 of GATT, which dictates that free trade agreements must cover substantially all trade. It also covers the elimination of tariffs and other barriers, and that's how Australia is approaching the US in its negotiations on agriculture, Mr Deady said.
The US however is likely to seek a quid pro quo, matching Australia's aim on agriculture with corresponding elimination of tariffs protecting Australia's manufacturing sector. This would expose Australia's manufacturers to competition from super-efficient US industry, in the same way as exposing the highly protected US farm sector to the super-efficient Australian farming sector.
The Australian, 15/3/03, page 2.
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