ISDS Case Map
Australia
Australia will consider changes to foreign investment guidelines to give China preferential treatment in buying into Australian resource projects under a free trade deal, John Howard confirmed yesterday.
Japan has decided not to pursue free trade talks with Australia because of concerns that its agricultural industry could be harmed, a news report said yesterday.
When he leaves China for Japan tomorrow, Prime Minister, John Howard, will still be focusing on a free trade deal. He will be asking his Japanese counterpart, Junichiro Koizumi, to start down the track of a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Japan.
Workers' rights were being ignored in the rush to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, a leading group of opponents said today.
Australia's proposed free trade agreement with China is on early shaky ground with a union leader claiming it's based on a lie and industry warning it should not be accepted at any cost.
Australia and Indonesia will develop a framework that could provide the building blocks for a free trade deal between the two countries
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has played down the significance of securing a free-trade agreement with China. "Whether or not we start free-trade negotiations, or whether they are brought to a satisfactory conclusion, I do not want to see that become the benchmark of whether or not we have a good relationship."
Australian companies, which previously shied away from Malaysia fearing that political differences between their governments would hinder business, are now looking at the country favourably.
Australia's prospects of a trade breakthrough with Japan this week have been undermined by new regional tensions and growing domestic opposition.
Australia should push ahead with negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China despite the risks and difficulties involved in engaging with the Communist nation, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said.
