The resources rivalry driving Australia's FTAs
Asia's north-east giants – China, Japan and Korea – are willing to grant Australia free trade agreements in return for privileged resources access. But this playing favourites could hurt our trade agenda.
You must be logged in to read this article
Not a member yet? Register today ›
Business Spectator is available on all of your devices so you can access the latest news and commentary where and how you like
Register now ›
Already a member? Sign in here
- Log in to post comments
Comments on this article
Comments PolicySounds like an outbreak of sanity prevailing if Australia is indeed treading warily when it comes to FTAs (The resources rivalry driving Australia's FTAs, October 5). Perhaps the US experience has provided a salutary lesson: AUSFTA has been pretty much a one-way street in terms of comparative benefit, with the US a clear winner.
It was only with the greatest of difficulty that Australia managed to fend off a naked US raid on our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and would-be Australian exporters to the US have hit brick walls when attempting to invoke access provisions of the AUSFTA.
The demand for special resources rights by prospective Asian FTA partners is not necessarily a bad thing, provided there is a far better -- and enforceable -- quid pro quo for Australian exporters than under AUSFTA.