Australia–Chile Free Trade Agreement: Difference between revisions

The '''Australia-ChileAustralia–Chile Free Trade Agreement''' is a [[free trade agreement|trade agreement]] between the countries of [[Chile]] and [[Australia]]. It was signed on July 30, 2008 and went into effect in the 1st quarter of 2009. <ref name="ADFAT">{{cite web|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/chile/fta/index.html|title=Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement|publisher=Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|accessdate=2009-01-02| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208032050/http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/chile/fta/index.html| archivedate= 8 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The agreement was intended to go into effect on January 1, 2009, but was delayed due to Chile not being able to finish its ratification in time.

When enacted, the Agreement calls for Chile to eliminate [[tariffs]] on 91.9% of tariffs which cover 96.9% of trade from Australia. Australia will cut 90.8% of tariffs which cover 97.1% of trade from Chile. By year six of the Agreement (2015), all tariffs will be discarded except for Chile’sChile's sugar tariff which will remain subject to its current ‘price band’ system. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/chile/fta/FTA_key_obligations.html|title=Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement: Summary of Key Obligations |publisher=Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|accessdate=2009-01-10}}</ref> The tariffs in Australia, that will stay in place until 2015, will be relating to textile and the clothing industry along with [[table grapes]]. In Chile, the agreement will protect the textile and clothing industry and some other manufactured products. <ref name="JSCT" />

According to the Australian Government, the government hopes to use the Agreement as a model for other free trade agreements with other countries. <ref name="JSCT 26">{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/4june2008/report1/chapter3.pdf|title=Report 95: Review into treaties tabled on 4 June, 17 June, 25 June and 26 August 2008|date=2008-10-16|pages=26|publisher=Joint Standing Committee on Treaties|accessdate=2009-01-05}}</ref>

Before passage of the Agreement [[farmers]] and [[horticulturists]] protested the Agreement in front of the [[Australian Parliament]]. The protesters claim that this agreement would undercut Australian food producers by allowing in cheap food goods from Chile.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2008/11/19/27095_horticulture.html|title=Chile free trade deal under fire|last=White|first=Leslie |date=November 19, 2008|publisher=The Weekly Times|accessdate=2009-01-10}}</ref> [[Simon Crean]], Australia's [[Minister for Trade (Australia)|Minister for Trade]], responded to the farmers concerns by stating that tariffs are quite low or in some cases nonexistent due to previous international trade agreements. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://aap.newscentre.com.au/cpsunat/081126/library/free_trade/19419221.html |title= Chile FTA a win-win for all parties |last=Crean |first=Simon |date=2008-11-26 |publisher=The Weekly Times (Australia) |accessdate=2009-01-05 }}{{dead link |date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Chile and Australia agreed in principalprinciple to start negotiations on December 8, 2006. Negotiations started on July 18, 2007 and after four rounds of talks, concluded on May 27, 2008. <ref name="ADFAT" />

** Australia [http://www.dfat.gov.au/geofta/chileaclfta/fta/Australia_Chile_FTA_Tariff_Schedule_Australia.pdf Tariff Schedule of AustraliaDFAT]

[[Category:Australia freeFree trade agreements of Chile]]

[[Category:21st-centuryFree treatiestrade agreements of Australia]]