CORTEZ News Article



Chile and Australia Free Trade Updates
		Published 20021220
		Mark.Schmittling@CORTEZteam.com

The most recent trade agreement signed between Chile and the United States intends on eliminating "import duties on more than 85 percent of consumer and industrial products. It also opens markets in banking, insurance and telecommunications." The Journal of Commerce also reports that trade between the U.S. and Chile "totaled $8.8 billion" in 2001. Chile is also in line for a trade agreement because of its stable economy, which currently contrasts with other South American countries, like Argentina and Venezuela, where economic difficulties are more serious. On Thursday, December 12, 2002 the Federal Register announced that the United States intended on negotiating a free trade agreement with Australia. The public is invited to submit comments on these negotiations. The topics under consideration for this Free Trade Agreement are: General and commodity-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement. Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to U.S.-Australian trade. Treatment of specific goods (described by Harmonized System Tariff numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on (1) Product-specific import or export interests or barriers, (2) experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations, and (3) in the case of articles for which immediate elimination of tariffs is not appropriate, a recommended staging schedule for such elimination. Adequacy of existing customs measures to ensure Australian origin of imported goods, and appropriate rules of origin for goods entering the United States under the proposed agreement. Existing Australian sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade. Existing barriers to trade in services between the United States and Australia that should be addressed in the negotiations. Relevant trade-related intellectual property rights issues that should be addressed in the negotiations. Relevant investment issues that should be addressed in the negotiations. Relevant government procurement issues that should be addressed in the negotiations. Relevant environmental and labor issues that should be addressed in the negotiations. Submissions by electronic mail are the preferred method of response and can be sent to FR0058@USTR.gov. The subject heading should be United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Correspondences should be submitted as either WordPerfect, MSWord, or text (.TXT) files.

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