ISDS Case Map
Australia
Beijing has told Canberra that opening access to China's services industry will be the most difficult aspect in bilateral free-trade negotiations, according to an Australian official.
After a year of skirmishing, Australia's free trade discussions with China are taking shape, with China agreeing in principle to include the sensitive areas of government procurement and investment in any agreement.
FTA opponents yesterday asked the Constitution Court to annul the Thai Australian Free Trade Area agreement (Tafta) on the ground that the Thaksin government entered into it unconstitutionally two years ago.
Winning the soccer World Cup in Germany next month would be a cinch compared with winning special access to Chinese markets for Australian farmers, investors and service providers.
Australia's monopoly blood processor, CSL, has backed Red Cross calls for a ban on plasma imports and warned against opening up the nation's supply network to overseas companies.
Australia's Treasury has dismissed the Australian Government's quest for bilateral free trade deals in Asia, saying that there are no clear benefits.
Australia and Japan expect to launch negotiations on a free trade deal late this year or early in 2007, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said.
It's just over a year since the Australia US Free Trade Agreement came into force, opening the door for US drug companies to force a review of decisions about which drugs are subsidised by the Australian Government. Now that power is being used by the US drug company Eli Lilly.
Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaile says wheat and beef must be included in any Australian free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
Australia is preparing to move ahead with a free-trade agreement next year with its most important trading partner, Japan, on the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking treaty of commerce between the two countries.
