About Australia Leads The Way To Globalisation
Australia is talking with ministers from Japan, Korea and China to finalise Free Trade Agreements with trio ahead of Tony Abbott‘s visit to Asia in April. On Wednesday, Japan’s Farm Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb failed to reach a consensus on tariff elimination. However, they confirmed negotiations would still be underway to obtain a win-win agreement after 7 years.
Specifically, Australia wants Japan to cut current beef tariffs to 19% while Japan is only willing to go for around 30%. On the other hand, Asian country wants Australia to slash its 5% auto tariff straight away.
If deal goes through, Australia will become first major farm exporting country to finalise a FTA with Japan, who has been biggest importer of Australia’s beef.
Australian beef industry is also awaiting outcome of talks with Korea over Korea-Australia free trade agreement (KAFTA), which is under ratification.
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On Thursday, upper house referred KAFTA to a Senate inquiry to get “best deal Australia can get” for its producers.
The country’s beef sector hopes deal is ratified soon as US – Australia’s major competitor in Korea’s beef market – has made faster progress regarding tariff slashing.
“There is a unique situation with Australia for both Japan and Korea, as there should be no competition in various sectors between Australia and Japan/Korea.
Meanwhile, businesses are calling on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to finalise a FTA with China during his visit to country next month.
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“It’s hard to overstate importance and strength of Australia Leads The Way To Globalisation relationship with China. China is now, by far, our largest trading partner. In some years, it’s our largest source of immigrants.
And in most years, it’s our largest source of foreign tourists and students”, Mr Abbott said during an Asia Society Luncheon in Canberra.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says China’s trade with Australia reached $125 billion in 2012, with great opportunities for beef and dairy industries.
However, critics point out China’s poor records in labour rights and environmental standards, which means compromising Australia’s standards for a FTA may be unethical.
Despite making no reference to China’s labour and environmental records, New Zealand signed an agreement with China back in 2008 and has greatly improved dairy and meat’s access to Chinese market.
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“Globalisation has been blamed by both extreme right and extreme left for a host of economic ills facing various nations.
Having seen effects of globalisation at close quarters in more than 100 countries, I cannot disagree more.
In my view the results attributed to Australia Leads The Way To Globalisation are more attributable to other factors such as human malfeasance, institutionalized corruption even in the highest places, laziness, a sense of entitlement to riches without working for them and herd mentality leading to action without thinking and many such factors – all a small part of basic human nature.”
