WT/TPR/M/312  
24 June 2015  
(15-3242)  Page: 1/48  
Trade Policy Review Body 
21 and 23 April 2015  
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
AUSTRALIA  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 
Chairperson: H.E. Mr. Atanas Atanassov Paparizov 
CONTENTS 
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAI RPERSON ....................................................... 2  
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE RE PRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA ................................. 4  
3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT ................................................................................ 8  
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS ........................................................................................ 13  
5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 41  
6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAI RPERSON ......................................................... 47  
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies 
provided by Australia are reproduced in docu ment WT/TPR/M/312/Add.1 and will be available 
online at http://www.wto.org/englis h/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 
1.1.  The seventh Trade Policy Review of Australia was held on 21 and 23 April 2015. The 
Chairperson H.E. Mr Atanas Atanassov Paparizov (Bulgaria) welcomed the delegation of Australia headed by Ms Patricia Holmes, Acting First Assist ant Secretary in the Office of Trade Negotiations, 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the re st of the delegation, including H.E. Ambassador 
Hamish McCormick, Permanent Representative of Au stralia to the WTO; other colleagues from the 
Mission in Geneva; and the discussant, Ms Irene Young (Hong Kong, China). 
1.2.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Tr ade Policy Reviews and the main elements of 
the procedures for the meeting. The report by Australia was contained in document WT/TPR/G/312 and that of the WTO Secretariat in WT/TPR/S/312. 
1.3.  Australia opted for the alternative timeline. The following delegations submitted questions 
before the deadline of 24 March and had been transm itted to the delegation of Australia: Malaysia; 
New Zealand; Switzerland; the European Union; Mexico; Brazil; China; Guatemala; Canada; Chinese Taipei; Chile; Singapore; Norway; Indonesi a; the Philippines; the United States; Japan; 
Hong Kong, China; and Peru. The following delegations submitted written questions after the 
deadline and had also been transmitted to the de legation of Australia: the Russian Federation; 
Paraguay; Colombia; India; Turkey; Thailand; Argent ina; Pakistan; Nigeria; the Republic of Korea; 
and Uruguay. 
1.4.  At Australia's previous TPRB meeting (5 and 7 April 2011), Members had acknowledged its 
exemplary institutionalization of transparency an d openness that had contributed to uninterrupted 
real GDP growth. Australia had been commended for weathering the global financial crisis without 
backsliding on trade liberalization. Nevertheless, Members had noted a marked decline in 
multi-factor productivity growth and had sought information on structural reforms, whose implementation had been lagging. During this latest review period, Australia's growth has slowed 
down to below its trend rate of 3%, due in part to terms of trade and mining investment 
developments. The economy had entered a transiti on period from mining investment towards 
higher mining production and exports, as well as to broader-based drivers of activity in 
non-resources sectors. Structural reforms had been ongoing in some trade policy related areas; 
however, only minor improvements in average multi factor productivity had been registered. Furthermore, the Australian dollar remained relatively overvalued, to the detriment of Australia's export competitiveness. This could inhibit Australia from meeting its economic and welfare 
objectives. Since the 2013 change in Government, the policy focus in various areas seemed to 
have been revised. The Chairperson believed Members would be interested in knowing more about these changes as well as the Government's implementation of its 2014 Industry Innovation and 
Competitiveness Agenda. In 2011, some Members had expressed concern over remaining foreign 
investment restrictions in sensitive sectors. Duri ng the review period, a foreign equity limit on 
investment in Qantas airline had been removed, bringing FDI restrictions on this airline in line with 
those applied to all others. 
1.5.  With regard to trade policy, a very obvious trend, both in 2011 and today, was Australia's 
continued pursuit of trade liberalization at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, despite doubts by the Productivity Commission and academics over the actual benefits of its preferential 
trade agreements. Over the review period, RTAs with Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Japan 
had entered into force and an RTA with China had been concluded. Australia was negotiating three additional bilateral RTAs as we ll as four plurilateral ones. 
1.6.  At the time of the previous review, despite Australia's low average MFN applied tariff rate, 
some Members had recommended the reduction in tariff peaks and simplification of the tariff 
structure by, inter alia , converting non- ad valorem  into ad valorem  rates. The average MFN tariff 
level remained virtually unchanged, though some planned unilateral tariff reductions had been 
completed, as scheduled in 2015. Steps to ratify the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and commitment to fund assistance to partner countries in this area were ongoing.  
1.7.  In 2011, certain Members had expressed concern over the deficiencies of the antidumping 
and countervailing system, and had called for less reliance on the former; during the review 
period, significant changes had been made to the legislative, institutional and procedural framework in this area.  WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  1.8.  At its previous TPR, widespread concern had been expressed about Australia's strict SPS 
requirements. Australia had been urged to make them less restrictive. Over the review period, 
reforms were undertaken to develop a modern system that facilitates trade while managing biosecurity risks.  
1.9.  Although the use of government procurement as an instrument of economic policy, including 
the "buy local" requirements by certain States, remained largely unchanged, Australia intended to initiate work to possibly accede to the Revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, as 
had been encouraged by Members in 2011.  
1.10.  From a sectoral standpoint, at the time of the previous review, some Members had noted 
the high level of industry-specific support prov ided to the automotive, textiles, clothing, and 
footwear industries and had hoped it would be reduced. During the review period, a Growth Fund 
has been introduced to help adjust to the ending of car manufacturing in Australia. Industry 
specific support for the textiles, clothing, footwear and leather industries has been drastically cut.  
1.11.  As at the time of Australia's previous review, services remained the main pillar of its 
economy. Notable developments over the review period had been the sale of a major state-owned 
health insurance provider and extensive maritime reforms aimed at making the Australian shipping 
industry more internationally competitive, increasing the size of the shipping fleet and promoting 
employment. A controversial new cabotage regime introduced by the previous Government was 
being reconsidered by the new administration. L ooking forward, a recently released Financial 
Sector Inquiry may result in changes to the financial services sector. Budgetary provision had been set aside to significantly improve Australia's road and rail infrastructure. 
1.12.  Despite the progress already achieved since the previous review, judging from Members' 
advance questions, a number of challenges remained to be addressed by Australia. The Chairperson drew attention to some areas where Members were interested in having more clarity 
as to the way forward. These included: firstly, how Australia was tackling or intended to cope with 
the major economic challenges it faced, including reducing dependency on the mining sector, stimulating multifactor productivity growth, and reducing the negative impact of the high 
Australian dollar; secondly, the trade consequences of major legislative changes carried over the 
review period or planned, including in the areas of  antidumping, intellectual property rights, SPS, 
and maritime transport; and finally, the measures th at Australia needed to take in order to accede 
to the WTO's GPA.  
1.13.  The Chairperson was sure that these topics and themes, and many more, would be touched 
upon in greater detail at the deliberations on the first and second day of the meeting.  
1.14.  The Chairperson closed his introductory remarks by wishing Australia a very successful 
seventh Trade Policy Review. He looked forward to its active engagement in this TPR. 
1.15.  He also noted that a podcast would be made of the meeting which could be accessed on the 
Members' website. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA (MS PATRICIA 
HOLMES) 
2.1.  Mr Chairman, Australia welcomes this seventh Trade Policy Review by the WTO. 
2.2.  We remain a strong proponent of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism as an effective means 
of ensuring transparency and maintaining confidence in the global trading system. 
2.3.  Australia warmly thanks the Secretariat for its comprehensive report on our trade and 
economic policies. It provides the basis for a rich discussion over the coming two days of our TPR. 
2.4.  Australia also thanks the WTO Members who po sed in excess of 400 questions to Australia, 
the quality of which highlights the value of this process. Answers to your questions, which were 
distributed last week, were crafted thoughtfully an d with transparency foremost in mind. And can I 
add that we have now responded to almost all of the questions that were received after the 
deadline. We will do our best to meet the same  standard of transparency when answering the 
questions you put to us during the review. 
2.5.  May I express our appreciation to Ambassador Young from Hong Kong, China, for her 
enthusiasm in approaching the role of Discussant for our TPR. 
2.6.  The report by the Secretariat on Australia's trade policies makes clear that Australia is in the 
midst of challenging economic times. 
2.7.  The tapering of the resources boom constitutes a significant challenge. Since our last review, 
the spot-price of iron ore is roughly one-third it s high of 2011 and less than half its market price 
during 2013. The resultant fall in mining investment  combined with a still recovering international 
environment means that economic growth is expect ed to remain below its trend rate in the near 
term. 
2.8.  While recognizing these challenges we also have cause to be optimistic. The Australian 
economy is in its 24th year of uninterrupted annual growth. It is rated triple 'A' by all three global 
rating agencies. It is forecast to have average annual real GDP growth of 3% between 2015 and 
2020, maintaining a relatively low unemployment rate. And it is increasingly tied to fast-growing economies in the Indo-Pacific region. 
2.9.  Moreover, historically low interest rates combined with a fall in the Australian dollar and 
significantly lower oil prices should encourage an increase in household and business activity over 
time. 
2.10.  The Government is also proactively confronting the economic headwinds with an Economic 
Action Strategy, which aims to reduce regula tory burdens, promote investment, encourage 
employment and foster productivity to fortify the Australian economy. 
2.11.  Since the 2013 election, the Government has announced more than $A 2.45 billion in red 
tape savings for businesses, individuals and comm unity organizations. These include several key 
reforms to alleviate compliance costs for small business who often feel a disproportionate impact of regulation.  
2.12.  The Government has commissioned reviews of Australia's tax system, competition policies 
and financial system, to identify areas for reform. These reviews will help to identify regulations and other impediments across the economy, which restrict competition and hinder business productivity. 
2.13.  The Government's Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda will lift the 
competitiveness and productivity of Australian indu stry by focusing on areas of our competitive 
strength and will help the transition from a reliance on mining to other smart, high-value, 
export-focused industries towards broader-based drivers of growth in other words. 
2.14.  Australia's economic strength has been underpinned by investment and foreign investment 
in particular, and the Government supports continued high levels of foreign investment. In our WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  view, foreign investment stimulates innovation and contributes to the prosperity of businesses, 
communities and the broader Australian society. Proposed changes to Australia's foreign investment regime are designed to strike the right balance between supporting foreign investment, while also reassuring the community that appropri ate safeguards are in place to ensure foreign 
investment is in Australia's national interest.  
2.15.  For example, the Government is currently seeking foreign investment to fund national 
infrastructure and has implemented a number of infrastructure investment reforms, including a 
$A 50 billion investment in major infrastructure projects between 2013-14 and 2019-20 referred to 
as the Infrastructure Investment Programme. As part of this programme, Australia considers a 
range of funding and financing mechanisms on a project-by-project basis designed to help facilitate greater private sector involvement in public infrastructure provision. 
2.16.  The Government is also considering ways to capitalize on Australia's great northern 
expanse. Ideas for developing Northern Australia were articulated in a Green Paper, published in 2014, and include trade and investment facilita tion and non-tariff liberalization reforms and 
deregulation in key sectors such as land, water and infrastructure. 
2.17.  In agriculture, the forthcoming Agricultural Co mpetitiveness White Paper will outline a clear 
strategy to improve the competitiveness and prof itability of the Australian agriculture sector, 
boosting its contribution to trade and economic  growth, and building capacity to drive greater 
productivity through innovation. 
2.18.  These initiatives I've briefly outlined demonstrate how Australia's Economic Action Strategy 
represents an unwavering commitment to li beralization and broader trade reform. 
2.19.  To give a concrete illustration of this, from 1 January 2015, our textiles, clothing and 
footwear tariffs were at a maximum of 5% afte r a phased reduction process over a number of 
years, and in specific cases these tariffs will effe ctively reduce to zero under a number of recently 
announced trade agreements. The value of Australia's TCF imports is now around 20 times the 
value of our TCF exports. 
2.20.  Australia already has a strong, globally integrated services sector contributing over 70% of 
output and accounting for more than three quarters of total employment. 
2.21.  Our domestic support for agriculture remains the second lowest amongst OECD countries, 
keeping Australian farmers among the most efficient in the world. 
2.22.  Our prudent sanitary and phytosanitary measures are well-known and are designed to 
protect our unique environment. In principle, our a pproach to these issues will not change, but like 
many other aspects of Australia's trade-related policy, they will be subject to ongoing reform. 
2.23.  For example, on 7 July 2014, the Biosecurity Bill 2014 was introduced to the Australian 
Parliament. If passed, the Bill will update an d improve the way Australia regulates people and 
goods coming into the country in a manner consistent with our WTO obligations. The Bill will achieve this by focusing our risk management efforts within 12 nautical miles of the Australian 
coastline, where the risk is greatest. 
2.24.  We are also undertaking an examination of our Import Risk Analysis processes to identify 
improvements to administrative and regulatory aspects of IRA processes. These outcomes will inform the regulations and policies that underpin IRA processes in the context of the newly 
proposed biosecurity legislation.  
2.25.  As I mentioned, Australia has benefitted grea tly from maintaining an open economy with 
imports and exports driving our prosperity. We co ntinue to look to increase trade and open 
markets wherever possible.  
2.26.  Since the Trade Policy Review of Australia in 2011, Australia has concluded ambitious FTAs 
with Malaysia, Japan, Korea and China. These agreements helped to strengthen our trade and 
investment relationships with these economies to the benefit of both countries. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  2.27.  In addition, the Protocol on Investment to the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic 
Relations Trade Agreement entered into force on 1 March 2013. 
2.28.  Australia is now engaged in bilateral FTA nego tiations with India and Indonesia and three 
regional FTA negotiations: the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic 
Partnership, and the Pacific Agreement on Closer  Economic Relations. We are also seeking to 
resume FTA negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. 
2.29.  Australia has been an active participant in negotiations on the WTO's rules for FTAs, so as to 
help ensure that all bilateral and plurilateral FTAs are comprehensive, genuinely liberalizing, and 
enhance efforts for global liberalization in the WTO. 
2.30.  We continue also to look for ways to make progress in the WTO in negotiations with other 
reform-minded WTO Members. 
2.31.  As one of the co-Chairs in the Trade in Serv ices Agreement (TiSA) along with the US and 
the EU, we are pursuing progress on services trade liberalization which we see as a mechanism with the potential to multilateralize discussions on services trade. 
2.32.  Australia, as Chair, has encouraged broad participation in the negotiations for an 
Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). The EGA will contribute to a cleaner environment and better access to safe water, sanitation and clean energy. 
2.33.  We are committed to partnerships to help promote implementation of the WTO's TRIPS 
Agreement. We support the entry into force of the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement to 
promote access to medicines. 
2.34.  Australia highly values the effective WTO dispute settlement system. We make a tangible 
contribution to the efficacy of the system as a third party in a range of disputes and we are 
engaged actively in the review of the dispute settlement system. 
2.35.  Moreover, Australia is currently the respondent in the Tobacco Plain Packaging dispute. With 
41 third parties, this is the largest dispute in the history of the WTO. Its significance goes to the 
rights of WTO Members to implement measures aime d at protecting the health of their citizens. 
Australia is confident its tobacco plain packaging measure is fully consistent with its trade and 
investment international obligations, including under the WTO agreements. 
2.36.  Multilateral negotiations in the WTO are also a crucial component of Australia's approach to 
trade and so to economic growth. The global character of the WTO means it can protect and promote interests in a way that bilateral or regional arrangements cannot. Disciplines on domestic 
support and export competition are prime examples of the WTO's reach. 
2.37.  Against that background, Australia has supported extending the reach and effectiveness of 
the multilateral trading system by upholding and further liberalizing trade rules through the WTO.  
2.38.  As Coordinator of the Cairns Group, Australia has for nearly 30 years championed the need 
for global liberalization of trade in agriculture, the sector of international trade which has long been blighted by the greatest tariff barriers and other distortions. And our commitment will remain 
strong. Liberalization of agricultural trade will not only benefit agricultural exporting countries like 
Australia but also importing countries through the creation of stable markets for consumers. 
2.39.  It has to be admitted that multilateral trade negotiations are at a critical juncture in the 
WTO. 
2.40.  The agreement by Members on a package of outcomes at MC9 in Bali was a very significant 
breakthrough. It demonstrated that the WTO can deliver meaningful outcomes, notably the Trade Facilitation Agreement, the first new multilateral  trade agreement in the WTO. The challenge we 
now face as Members is to build upon that success. 
2.41.  Members can do this by working constructively together in implementing the other elements 
of the Bali package, including the development outcomes. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  2.42.  We encourage all WTO Members to employ their best efforts to meet the July deadline for 
development of a post-Bali work programme. For our part, we want to work closely with other WTO Members to agree on the work programme. 
2.43.  Australia strongly supports the conclusion of the Doha Round as soon as possible. We want 
to ensure success in Nairobi, which is our best opportunity in years to advance the WTO 
membership towards conclusion of the Doha negotiations. 
2.44.  In addition to MC10, the 5th Global Aid for Trade Review Conference represents another 
important occasion for the WTO in 2015. Australia's participation in this forum will build upon our 
contribution in 2013, which included efforts to secure an Aid for Trade commitment from the G-20 and the inclusion of trade targets in the post-2015 development goals. 
2.45.  Australia has a longstanding commitment to Aid for Trade and the development dimension 
of trade. The Australian Government firmly believes trade and investment are crucial to 
development and has committed to helping Members at all levels of development, bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally. 
2.46.  Our Generalized System of Preferences Scheme has been in operation since 1976 when we 
unilaterally extended preferential rates to developing countries under the Australian System of Tariff Preferences. And we have offe red full duty-free, quota-free access for more than a decade to 
all LDCs. 
2.47.  More recently, the Government set a target of increasing Australia's Aid for Trade 
investments to 20% of the total aid budget by 2020. 
2.48.  And since MC9, Australia has been exploring ways to give effect to the LDC services waiver 
and has worked closely with other WTO Member s to deliver on this commitment to LDCs. 
2.49.  We have also demonstrated our commitment to ensuring developing countries and LDCs 
reap the benefits of the Trade Facilitation Agreement by contributing $A 6 million over three years 
to the World Bank's Trade Facilitation Support Program and through a commi tment of $A 1 million 
to the WTO to help developing nations implement the Agreement, contingent upon its adoption. 
2.50.  In May 2014, Australia also co-funded a workshop for Pacific Islands WTO Members on ATF 
implementation. 
2.51.  I spoke of the challenges currently facing the Australian economy at the beginning of this 
statement. I went on to outline some of the strategies being employed by the Government to shore up and build upon Australia's economic ac hievements in recent decades. And Australia's 
Economic Action Strategy will continue to evolve. Our future prosperity will depend on our ongoing 
commitment to micro and macro-economic reforms, difficult though that can be. In implementing these policies we do not aim to "pick winners"; we aim to create a flexible economy, a flexible 
exchange rate, a flexible workforce and regulation that generate a competitive economy. 
2.52.  Australia's national interest is served unambiguously by an effective rules-based multilateral 
trading system under the auspices of the WTO. 
2.53.  We will continue to work towards genuine trade liberalization, seeking an appropriate 
balance between bilateral, regional, plurilateral and multilateral initiatives. 
2.54.  Our most pressing task here remains conclusion of the Doha Round, and Australia will 
continue to work with other Members to turn that long-held aspiration to reality. 
2.55.  In conclusion, may I say that our delegation anticipates engaging in a constructive and 
informative dialogue with our Discussant, Ambassador Young, and with other WTO Members during the course of our TPR. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT 
Introductory remarks 3.1.  I would like to join you in welcoming Ms Holmes and the Australian delegation, including, of 
course, our distinguished colleague H.E. Ambassador McCormick. 
3.2.  I thank the Australian Government and the Secretariat for their very informative reports 
which form the basis of my observations. In this statement, I will highlight those aspects which are of particular interest to Members, and examine them in broader economic and historical contexts, 
so as to appreciate better the policy rationale and constraints, as well as the potentials for 
improvement. 
Economic outlook and Government response 3.3.  Let me start with the more general economic environment in which trade policies operate. As 
the Chairman rightly pointed out, growth has slowed down to below 3%, but  I think in overall 
terms, Australia's economy has performed well and will continue to do so. Having seen an impressive 23 years of continuous economic growth and already well into its 24
th, Australia is now 
the world's 12th largest economy and has the 5th highest GDP per capita. Inflation is within target 
range, and the country's fiscal position compares well to its advanced economy peers. 
3.4.  Yet, like many developed countries, Australia also has long-term and structural challenges, 
some arising from a changing demography, such as an ageing population, while others are 
market-driven. 
3.5.  In particular, in the wake of the mining boom, Australia is now at a critical juncture, where it 
needs to rebalance its growth towards the non-resources sector to address a sharp decline in 
resources investment and terms of trade. There is  considerable excess capacity in the labour 
market, with the unemployment rate forecast to in crease to 6.5% in the coming two years. The 
country also faces risks in the housing sector, and external risks such as a sharp slowdown in 
growth in China. 
3.6.  Apart from making necessary adjustments to the fiscal and monetary policies, the authorities 
are responding to these challenges by trying to increase productivity. The 2014-15 Budget, for 
instance, provides for significant infrastructure investment and reforms to the governance of key 
projects. The Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda  mentioned by Ms Holmes will also 
help upgrade the skills of the workforce. Bearing in mind that productivity growth has accounted 
for 80% of the increase in Australia's national income over the past 40 years1, these are very 
strategic policy directions to strengthen the economy in the longer term, and should, to a certain 
extent, address the Chairman's point about there being ongoing structural reforms but only minor 
improvements in average multi-factor productivity so far. 
3.7.  Another way to boost productivity, and with more  immediate effect, is deregulation. We have 
heard the Government's pledge to reduce complianc e costs by $A 1 billion each year and to set 
aside parliamentary sittings to repeal counterproductive, unnecessary or redundant legislation. I 
hope these "Repeal Days" can serve as a regular reminder of what more can be done for traders, 
and what multiplying effects that will have on productivity and trade flows. As trade with the world has grown to 42% of Australia's GDP, it would be useful to know whether, and how, the authorities 
intend to give priority to trade facilitation in these exercises. 
An open economy 
3.8.  The Secretariat report says Australia is "one of the most open economies in the world". I 
would go further to say that being open is not only a description of what Australia is. It is a motto 
that the country holds dear, and one that explains its economic success. 
3.9.  Perhaps it's no surprise that the key sectors that now drive Australia's economic performance 
are also the sectors which see a higher degree of openness. Take services for example. It accounts 
                                               
1 Source: DFAT publication "Trading our way to more jobs and prosperity", April 2011. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  for over 70% of the country's GDP and employment . In the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness 
Index which analyses data from 40 countries, Australia is found to be less restrictive than the average in 17 out of the 18 services sectors, and is the least restrictive in two of them.
2 On the 
merchandise side, mining, representing 8.6% of Australia's GDP and 55% of its total goods export 
value, is operating in a competitive market environment. So is agriculture where the applied MFN 
tariff protection is negligible (at 1.4%), with no market price support, and only a domestic support which is the second lowest among OECD countries. 
3.10.  But this has not always been the case. 
3.11.  For many decades in the last century, Australia had practised protectionism when very high 
tariffs sheltered its industries from international competition. The result was disastrous: minerals exports collapsed; foreign investment fell from 160% to 23% of GDP.
3 Terms of trade were 
sustained for a while by primary commodities but did not hold out for long as productivity 
continued to wane. 
3.12.  The Government eventually decided in the 1970s to roll out an ambitious programme of 
trade liberalization and structural reforms, starting with slashing tariffs by 25% across the board. 
Airlines, communications and transport infrastructures were deregulated; the Australian dollar was floated; foreign-owned banks let in; and company tax rates reduced. Then, the economy picked 
up, survived and thrived. 
3.13.  Knowing what Australia has been through, one can appreciate why liberalization has become 
the cornerstone of its trade policy. The question  then, is: what more can Australia do now to 
further this policy objective? The national approach, we understand, is a multi-pronged one: trade 
liberalization is to be pursued multilaterally, plurilaterally and unilaterally. 
Multilateral – the WTO 3.14.  Australia sees multilateral trade liberalization as the best option. This explains its very active 
and constructive participation in the Doha Round of negotiations, in particular as Chair of the 
Cairns Group. We have just heard from Ms Ho lmes Australia's aspirations in this regard. 
3.15.  Australia is also a responsible and cooperative Member in the WTO's regular work. During 
the review period, it had a strong record of notification, and had exercised due restraint by not 
bringing any new case to dispute settlement. Howe ver, it is a major user of anti-dumping (AD) 
measures, ranking 4
th in 2013. Between 2010 and 2013, Australia had initiated 57 AD 
investigations, and of the 40 duties which were in force as of 30 June 2013, 10 were extensions of 
existing ones beyond the 5-year sunset period. AD actions may be able to address the injuries to 
specific industries, but they may not provide the biggest benefits to one's own consumers and producers who need to import intermediate goods,  whereas the exporting economies will certainly 
bear the brunt. So, while Australia has implemented many domestic reforms to strengthen its AD 
system, and assures fellow Members that these are all consistent with its WTO obligations, the more relevant questions may be whether AD is really in the action-taker's broader national 
interest, and whether there are better alternatives.  
Plurilaterals 3.16.  Coming back to trade liberalization, at the moment Australia is pursuing plurilateral 
negotiations in the areas of services, information technology and environmental goods, the 
outcome of which is expected to be compatible with existing WTO Agreements, if not actually 
MFN-ed. Last year, it also announced that it was working towards possible accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. Many Member s have enquired about the progress in this 
regard. While the authorities have yet to take a decision, I believe Members would look forward to 
the accession as an opportunity for Australia to review its many local preference requirements at present. 
                                               
2 OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI): Country Note - Australia, May 2014. 
3 Foreign investment represented 160% of the countr y's GDP in the early 1930s, but plunged to only 
23% by 1960. Source: CUTS International 30th Anniversary Lecture by Peter Varghese AO, Secretary of the 
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 3 February 2014. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  Regional and bilateral preferential agreements 
3.17.  Since progress in multilateral negotiations has been slow, Australia has turned to regional 
and bilateral trade agreements as building blocks for the multilateral trading system. In Minister Robb's words, I quote "The agreements act like bricks in a wall, with each brick or agreement 
forcing more and more structural adjustment in different countries until the growing wall heads 
towards a virtual multilateral-type outcome ".
4 As a result of an unprecedented level of 
engagement during the review period, Australia saw three new FTAs (with Malaysia 2013, Korea 
2014 and Japan 2015, respectively) entering into force, negotiations on another one (with China) 
concluded, two more (with India and Indonesi a) going on, and three RTAs, including the 
Trans-Pacific Partnership, in progress. 
3.18.  But are these agreements really heading towa rds the "virtual multilateral-type outcome" 
mentioned by Minister Robb? Do they deliver the huge economic benefits they promise? As 
mentioned by the Chairman, the Productivity Commission had some doubt. In an inquiry five years ago, it concluded that some of the significant increase in trade flows between partner countries 
was "typically offset by trade diversion from other countries", and that "non-discriminatory trade 
agreements [were] more likely to result in net trade creation and associated economic benefits than agreements with restrictive preference structure" .'
5 
3.19.  Now five years have passed since that Producti vity Commission inquiry, during which period 
Australia has gone all out in the direction of pref erential agreements. Wouldn't it be prudent to 
again reflect upon the costs and benefits of such pursuits, not only in terms of the immediate impact on trade flows with the partner countries, but also in terms of regional integration, global 
trade and its systemic interests? How does the Go vernment ensure that these agreements do not 
distort or divert trade in the longer term? And is there a danger of these agreements creating an incentive among the negotiating parties to keep their high trade barriers as bargaining chips, 
hence slowing down the pace of domestic reforms? 
Unilateral trade liberalization 3.20.  That brings us to the next issue that I would like to explore, which is unilateral trade 
liberalization. Does Australia's very ambitious trade strategy focus mainly on overseas market 
access? Or is it complemented by domestic reforms to liberalize and facilitate trade unilaterally? 
3.21.  I think it depends on what sectors we are talking about. 
3.22.  The Secretariat report would suggest that mining and agriculture  are operating in a 
relatively competitive market environment. On the services side, while the overall regime is fairly 
liberal, conditions in the specific sectors vary. Tourism, which is Australia's major services export, is fully open to investment, and benefits from  little government support, while for financial 
services, an inquiry has made recommendations to eliminate distortions and impediments to 
competition, but as in the ICT and transport sectors, there are still certain foreign investment restrictions. 
3.23.  The situation in manufacturing, in contrast, would  require greater attention. The sector 
accounts for 7.1% of GDP, but received 83.9% of the estimated net combined assistance made available to all sectors of the economy in 2012-13. This is mainly in the form of tariff assistance, but government-purchasing preferences, local-co ntent requirements and tax policies also have 
assistance implications. The Australian Government strongly believes that Australia will gain from 
removing its own barriers to trade, and that it would be wrong to see that as a "concession" or "giving something up".
6 It has indeed drastically reduced both tariff rates and industry-specific 
support for the textiles, clothing, footwear and leat her industries during the review period, which is 
commendable. But how about the Luxury Car Tax, which falls mostly on imported vehicles, and 
                                               
4 A case for freer trade: "Big Ideas Under the Dome" lecture series, delivered by the Minister for Trade 
and Investment, 21 May 2014. 
5 Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements, Research Report, Canberra, Productivity Commission 2010. 
6 A case for freer trade: "Big Ideas Under the Dome" lecture series, delivered by the Minister for Trade 
and Investment, 21 May 2014. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  which three previous inquiry reports7 have all recommended to abolish? Or the Wine Equalisation 
Tax, which applies to imported wines at 29% of the customs value, while domestic producers are eligible for a rebate? How will these be considered in the ongoing review on tax policies? I believe many Members would like to know. 
3.24.  As I see it, the Australian Government is highly responsive to changing circumstances, and 
can be very proactive in conducting reviews, if not also introducing reforms. During the review 
period, Australia saw its biggest intellectual property  system overhaul in 20 years, and has just 
finished a comprehensive "root and branch" review of its competition laws and policy. Will the 
Government be prepared to review other areas of concern in a similarly decisive and in-depth manner? 
3.25.  In the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)  regime, reform during the review period has 
enabled Australia to move from rigid intervention targets to a more flexible risk-based biosecurity 
approach. However, there are still many quarantine controls and food standards which are stricter than relevant international ones. Import prohibitions and stringent processes still apply to a wide 
range of agriculture and livestock products. At the moment, the Government is developing 
regulations and policies for import risk analyses under the Biosecurity Bill 2014. Will it take this opportunity to address the many concerns raised by Members in this area? 
3.26.  Likewise, on the investment side, there are general foreign investment screening thresholds 
which are significantly lower than the preferential ones in Australia's FTAs. There are also conditions and restrictions that are less than tr ansparent and can become trade barriers. We know 
that Australia has traditionally been running a current account deficit and relying on foreign capital 
to fund investments. The primacy of investment is also seen in the creation in 2013 of a new 
Minister for Trade and Investment who, in the Coalition Government's words, is a "sales rep" for Australia to encourage greater inward investment.
8 Given the importance of FDI to Australia's 
economy, does the Government see merit in a more user-friendly and trade-facilitative regulatory 
regime? Where restrictions are imposed to protect national interest, can there be a clearer definition of that concept, so that there will be greater transparency and predictability in the 
Government's decision making process? 
Participation in other trade-related in ternational organizations/Aid for Trade 
3.27.  Before closing, I would like to commend Australia for its good work in two particular areas. 
First, its participation in trade-related international organizations outside the WTO. Australia is an 
active member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), East Asia Summit (EAS) and 
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), but its contribution to G-20 as the host of 2014 is particularly remarkable. Un der its capable leadership, we saw more than 
800 new measures in the "Brisbane Action Plan", in cluding many that aim at lowering the cost of 
trading across borders and facilitating participation in regional and global value chains. 
3.28.  The second area is aid for trade. At the moment, it represents around 12.5% 
($A 630 million in 2013-14) of Australia's development assistance, but will increase to 20% in five 
years' time. Monetary value aside, it is important to know that Australia sees development assistance not as an act of charity, but as an in vestment in the future of the Indo-Pacific region.
9 
Trade is one of the four pillars of Australia's economic diplomacy, and donor-beneficiary 
relationships have developed into strategic partnerships, as in the case of Papua New Guinea.10 I 
see this as a very progressive approach to aid for trade, which other Members may also find inspiring. 
                                               
7 Brack's Review of Australia's Automotive Industry  (2008); the Henry Review of Australian Taxation 
System (2008); and the Productivity Commission's inquiry into Australia's Automotive  Manufacturing Industry 
(2014). 
8 The Coalition's Policy for Trade, Li beral Party of Australia, September 2013 
9 DFAT; Australian aid: promoting prosperity, redu cing poverty, enhancing stability, June 2014 
10 Last year, Australia and Papua New Guinea sign ed an economic cooperation agreement pledging, 
inter alia , mutual commitment to their rela tionship as equals and important partners. Source: Joint Declaration 
for a New Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, Port Moresby, 10 May 2013. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  Final remarks 
3.29.  Australia is a story of how an economy can benefit remarkably from trade liberalization. 
Fifty years ago, when the country was still very  much engrossed in a protectionist mentality, 
making a decision to open up its market and expose itself to global competition took great political 
courage, but it has proven to be the right choice . It has brought innovation, diversity, enhanced 
productivity and competitiveness. Now Australia is set to play to its strengths and move with the 
times. 
3.30.  In the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the kangaroo and the emu are the two 
native animals that hold the shield with pride. Some say the kangaroo and emu were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, because apparently neither animal can move backwards easily. This is indeed the resilience that I see in an economy that keeps its head up amidst global 
and domestic challenges, and a spirit that I hope will always guide Australia's development and 
trade policies in the future. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 
MALAYSIA  ON BEHALF  OF ASEAN 
4.1.  ASEAN and Australia have through the years built strong engagement in a range of areas 
including security, culture, trade, education and development. Last year, ASEAN and Australia 
commemorated the 40th anniversary of Dialogue relations, and agreed to elevate the 
comprehensive partnership to a strategic level.  
4.2.  Economic and trade relations between ASEAN and Australia have steadily expanded in the 
past years. Two-way merchandise trade between ASEAN and Australia is valued at over 
US$99 billion making ASEAN Australia's second-large st trading partner next to China. FDI from 
Australia to ASEAN reached US$2 billion in 2013, ma king Australia ASEAN's seventh largest source 
of FDI.   
4.3.  The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which was 
implemented on 1 January 2010, is one of ASEAN's  most comprehensive economic agreements to 
date, bringing together economies of more th an US$4.1 trillion (2013) and over 655 million 
people.  
4.4.  Under the Agreement, the AANZFTA Economic  Support Programme (AECSP) continues to 
support economic cooperation activities and long-term projects aimed not only at implementing 
the FTA but also towards achieving broad economic  integration and improve business utilisation.  
4.5.  Australia is among the six Dialogue Partners of ASEAN that joined the negotiations on a 
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Given the substantial reduction of trade barriers these trade arrangements will have on goods, services and investment in the region, we 
believe that they will serve as building blocks to strengthen the multilateral trading system. 
4.6.  Finally, Australia is an active Member of the WTO and it is at the forefront to push forward 
towards a successful conclusion of the DDA negoti ations. ASEAN would particularly like to thank 
Ambassador Hamish McCormick and his delegation for their tireless efforts and constructive 
engagement with delegations, including individu al ASEAN members, here  in Geneva. ASEAN will 
continue to work closely with the delegation of Australia along with other Members to realize the 
post-Bali Work Programme and a successful outcome for MC10. 
4.7.  On Trade Facilitation, ASEAN thanks Australia on its commitment of $A 1 million to assist 
developing Members implement the Agreement. Beyond the WTO and OECD, ASEAN highly appreciates Australia's advocacy of the importance of aid for trade in other forums, such as the 
G-20 and the UN-led Post 2015 Development Agenda. 
4.8.  We thank the Australian delegation for their written responses to queries by the ASEAN 
member states, and wish Australia every success in their seventh Trade Policy Review. 
MALAYSIA 
4.9.  Malaysia fully associates itself with the ASEAN statement. 
4.10.  Malaysia congratulates Australia on its continuous economic growth, which has enabled 
Australians to enjoy some of the highest living standards in the world. Australia has the world's 
fifth highest GDP per capita and currently the twelfth largest economy in the world. 
4.11.  Since the last review, we noted that Australia has put in place an ambitious reform 
programme to overcome deflation and to revitalize its economy despite the slow performance of 
global trade environment. Malaysia takes particular interest in the measures that will be 
implemented by Australia to further open its economy to foreign trade and investment. Malaysia shares Australia's aim to promote open markets, enhanced trade liberalization, less red-tape, 
increased investment and to position the economy to be efficient, highly competitive and focused 
on capturing opportunities available in our region. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.12.  Malaysia and Australia enjoy a strong and highly complementary economic relationship 
through evolving bilateral and regional integration initiatives such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA). We also welcome Australia's commitment to pursuing ambitious, high standard international trade 
rules, as exemplified in her participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional 
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations. We believe that successful conclusion of such high quality agreements would offer participating countries such as Australia and Malaysia 
deeper economic benefits. 
4.13.  On the bilateral front, in 2014, Australia was Malaysia's 9
th largest trading partner. Bilateral 
trade increased by 16% to reach US$16.28 billion compared to US$14.49 billion in 2013. Bilateral investment flows also continue to improve. As of 2014, total net inflows of Foreign Direct 
Investments (FDI) from Australia were valued at US$115.6 million while Malaysia's total net 
outflows of Direct Investment Abroad (DIA) to Australia were recorded at US$1.23 billion. 
4.14.  Despite Australia's efforts to reform its econom y in various areas, we remain concerned on a 
number of barriers to trade. This is, in particular, with regard to standards and technical 
regulations and import restrictions that continue to hinder exports from Malaysia. We also look forward to Australia's regulatory reforms to better facilitate further foreign investments. 
4.15.  Turning to the TPR at hand, Malaysia had submitted written questions and we would like to 
thank the Australian delegation for the respective answers we have received last week. Our capital is currently examining the responses. 
NEW
 ZEALAND 
4.16.  Australia and New Zealand have one of the most open economic and trade relationships 
between any two countries, characterised by subs tantial flows of merchandise trade, services, 
capital, labour and people. Australia remains New Zealand's number one trading partner in terms 
of total two-way trade (taking goods and services combined); the most significant destination for 
New Zealand investment offshore; and the larges t inbound tourism market for New Zealand. In 
turn, New Zealand is Australia's sixth-largest two-way trading partner.   
4.17.  The Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (known as CER) 
underpins our close trade and economic relation ship. The CER was signed in 1983 and achieved 
free trade in all goods and nearly all services by 1990.   
4.18.  Over time, our economic and trade relationship has evolved and expanded with the 
implementation of the Single Economic Agenda (SEM) which is designed to create a seamless 
trans-Tasman business environment. Since Australia's last Trade Policy review, we have implemented the CER Investment Protocol, an ambitious investment agreement which maintains 
CER's status as one of the world's most comprehensive free trade agreements. 
4.19.  Since Australia's last Trade Policy Review, we have seen progress on a number of initiatives 
that contribute to the SEM agenda, such as: 
 The implementation of the CER Investment Protocol;  
 The implementation of trans-Tasman retirement savings portability;  
 The roll-out of SmartGate, an automated border processing system; 
 The mutual recognition of investment prospectuses for fund-raising; 
 Equivalence of consumer credit requirements and enforcement regimes faced by businesses 
on both sides of the Tasman. 
4.20.  There is increased cooperation and mutual recognition in a number of new areas. As 
Australia continues to undertake economic and regulatory reform, in particular the work currently 
underway to review and reform Australia's tax and competition policies, we will continue to look to jointly identify areas where further policy alignm ent will benefit trans-Tasman trade and economic WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  integration. We commend Australia on its deve lopment of a modern regulatory framework to 
simplify and streamline biosecurity processes while maintaining strong biosecurity standards. 
4.21.  We share Australia's view that multilateral negotiations through the WTO are the most 
effective way to achieve real trade liberalization on a global scale, including through improved 
market access and the elimination of trade-distorting subsidies. We welcome Australia's 
commitment to a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system, particularly as agriculture remains a highly distorted area of international trade. We are grateful for Australia's ongoing work, 
as Chair of the Cairns Group, in pursuit of ambitious market access, export competition and 
domestic support outcomes for agricultural pr oducts through the WTO Doha Development Round. 
We also welcome Australia's positive contribution to the Friends of Fish group.   
4.22.  We are also pleased to be negotiating alongside Australia in the TISA, ITA and EGA WTO 
plurilateral initiatives, and welcome Australia's recent announcement of working towards accession 
to the GPA. We also recognize the strong role Au stralia plays in other forums including the OECD, 
APEC, EAS and the G-20. We congratulate Australia  on its successful hosting of the G-20 in 2014 
and we were very pleased to participate on Australia's invitation.  
4.23.  Complementing our bilateral and multilateral efforts we are also active together in regional 
settings. New Zealand and Australia continue to work closely in negotiating the Trans Pacific 
Partnership (TPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Pacific 
Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus). We also continue to work with Australia on the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA). We congratulate Australia on its recently concluded free trade agreements with Korea, Japan and 
China.   
4.24.  In closing, I would like to emphasize the value we place in the close working relationship 
New Zealand enjoys with Australia as we seek to progress the wide range of multilateral, regional 
and bilateral initiatives outlined in this statement.   
SWITZERLAND 4.25.  Since Australia's last Trade Policy Review in April 2011, which highlighted the economic 
consequences of several heavy floods, your ec onomy has been performing strongly and above 
average. Meanwhile, I take it from the Secretariat's report that one of the main challenges is to continue reforms aimed at reducing the relative importance of the mining sector and thus further diversifying the Australian economy.  
4.26.  On the bilateral level, raw materials from Aust ralia remain very important for Switzerland. 
They are also contained in many imported semi -finished and finished products. In terms of 
bilateral trade, after reaching a peak in 2011, Sw iss imports and exports have tended to decrease 
over the past four years, totalling about US$2.6 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, investment by Swiss 
companies in Australia has continued to be strong in the past few years, reaching an accumulated stock of US$20 billion (in 2013).  
4.27.  Turning to the TPR at hand, Switzerland would like to thank the Australian Delegation for 
the substantive written answers to our question s provided last week. While these are being 
examined in detail by our relevant authorities, we would like to seize the opportunity of this TPR to make a few preliminary remarks on some of the answers received.   
4.28.  With respect to our questions regarding the hi gh number of antidumping and countervailing 
duties measures currently in place in Australia, we appreciated the explanations provided in the 
context of the so-called "Streamlining" policy. At the same time, we remained concerned that 
needs of global value chains may not sufficiently be taken into consideration when decisions are 
made under the discretion of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Science.  
4.29.  On Australia's delayed alignment of its BSE import conditions with the recognized standards 
of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),  and in addition to the written answer provided 
by Australia, we would welcome further informatio n on the expected timeframe for completing this 
process. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.30.  Turning to government procurement and its economic importance in Australia, Switzerland 
welcomes the intention recently expressed by the Australian Government to accede to the revised GPA. Any information on next steps in this regard would be appreciated. 
4.31.  Before concluding, I would like to express Switzerland's appreciation of Australia's strong 
and ongoing commitment to the multilateral tradin g system, and the very engaged and pragmatic 
work done by Ambassador McCormick and his crew here in Geneva.   
EUROPEAN
 UNION 
4.32.  Let me start noting the remarkable economic situation of Australia that has experienced 
23 years of continuous economic growth.  
4.33.  As acknowledged by the Secretariat report, Australia's trade policy continues to be based on 
the premise that trade openness, economic grow th and improved living standards are strongly 
linked and, as a result, Australia is one of the most dynamic and open economies in the world. The 
EU applauds Australia's sound macroeconomic policies and wide-ranging structural reforms, which have contributed to its strong economic performance over the past decade. 
4.34.  A word on our bilateral relationship with Australia. The EU and Australia are long-standing 
partners. The commercial ties between the EU and Australia are strong and healthy. The EU is Australia's 3rd largest partner as regards trade in goods with €38.7 billion in 2014, representing 
11% of Australia's merchandise trade ($A 56.6 billion) and Australia's largest services trade 
partner, accounting for 19% ($A 24.9 billion) of Australia's two-way trade in services in 2013-14.  The EU is the largest market for Australia's services exports and largest source of its services imports. Then, the EU is the largest direct investor  in Australia (stock of $A 156 billion in 2013 or 
25% of all foreign direct investment in Australia) and the second-largest destination of Australian 
foreign direct investment ($A 73.5 billion or 15%).   
4.35.  Both the EU and Australia believe in free trade and open markets and we maintain regular 
bilateral contacts on trade policy including in the annual bilateral Trade Policy Dialogue. In this 
respect, conclusion of the negotiations of the Framework Agreement between Australia and the EU 
is an additional step towards the further deepening of our bilateral relations. 
4.36.  I also wish to convey the EU's appreciation for Australia's significant contribution to the 
multilateral trading system. The EU shares Australia's keen interest in upholding and strengthening the WTO system. Australia remains a strong advocate of the benefits of global trade liberalization, and is a valued partner in seeking to achieve this objective. We especially appreciate the 
constructive contribution of Ambassador McCormick and his team in Geneva. The EU trusts 
Australia will continue exerting its positive influence in this Organization and shares with Australia the willingness to assess the possibility of reflecting the outcomes of various plurilateral initiatives 
in the multilateral trading system.   
4.37.  Despite Australia's exceptionally strong record, there are some areas where we would see 
room for further improvements. This leads me to some issues raised by the EU in the questions 
submitted ahead of this TPR and that we find particularly important. 
4.38.  You have probably noticed that many questions have been raised on government 
procurement. As acknowledged by the Secretariat report, Australia has continued to use government procurement as an instrument of economic policy aimed at fostering industrial 
development in certain sensitive areas. In the EU's view, Australia should further improve its 
government procurements regulatory system in particular at sub-federal level, where in some cases the principle of non-discrimination is not a pplied in a uniform manner, and price preference 
schemes for domestic suppliers are still applicable. The EU would encourage Australia to join the 
Government Procurement Agreement and awaits th e outcome of its deliberations on whether to 
accede. 
4.39.  Another important issue relates to the tax system and its reform process. Whilst the EU 
notes that the Australian Government has delivered on some of its tax priorities, and that progress is being made in relation to compliance costs for business, we would again urge Australia to WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  rethink other burdensome taxes such as the luxury car tax which have de facto  discriminatory 
effects on imports.  
4.40.  In the area of investment, the Australian Government has recently adopted measures which 
impose an additional regulatory process on fore ign investors (reduction of screening thresholds). 
These measures do not appear to be consistent with Australia's objective of reducing red-tape and 
improving Australia's competitiveness as an investment destination. The EU urges Australia to carefully assess the potential impact of these measures on current and future foreign investments.  
4.41.  Last but not least, there are concerns regarding SPS measures. Australia needs to establish 
fair, non-discriminatory and transparent rules for biosecurity measures for imported products, and in particular to align its SPS measures with international guidelines and standards. In the EU's view, a large number of SPS constraints imposed on imports into Australia go beyond the relevant 
international standards, guidelines and recommendations, and appear to be stricter than 
necessary. The EU took note of the recent consul tation regarding the review of the import risk 
analysis process. It urges Australia to provide greater clarity and transparency on the functioning 
of this system, notably with regard to its impact on new market access for foreign origin products. 
4.42.  To conclude on a more positive note which Australia more than deserves, the EU applauds 
the transparency of Australia's trade policies and wishes Australia a successful review, being 
confident that all suggestions and feedback provided  by Members during this exercise will be well 
received. 
MEXICO 4.43.  Mexico commends Australia for maintainin g a transparent and exemplary trade regime and 
for its openness to international trade. A prime example is the development of its agricultural 
sector, which is one of the most market-oriented and competitive in the world, as it is the second-least subsidized among those of OECD countri es, with an average level of tariff protection 
of 1.4%, i.e. one third of that afforded to manufacturing. 
4.44.  Mexico welcomes the trade facilitation measures adopted by Australia since its previous 
review, including the reduction in customs documentation requirements, computerized customs 
clearance, the amendment of customs valuation legislation, and increased international 
cooperation in this area. 
4.45.  Major reforms are also under way in other spheres, such as increasing market competition, 
deregulation, intellectual property and promoting the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized 
enterprises. 
4.46.  Mexico is pleased to note that Australia's services sector is one of the most open in the 
world, accounting for around 71% of GDP and 77 % of employment. Tourism's share amounts to 
more than half the value of total services exports. We also wish to underscore the reforms 
implemented to make the Australian maritime transport sector substantially more competitive. 
4.47.  Despite Australia's efforts to keep its markets open, there are still areas where further 
efforts could be made in that direction: 
 Although changes have been made to the legisl ative, institutional and procedural framework 
for anti-dumping, Australia is the fourth largest user of anti-dumping measures; we therefore urge it to continue and deepen the work it has been doing to streamline its 
anti-dumping regime. 
 Although Australian standards and technical regulations are subject to systematic 
cost-benefit analysis, this is not the case with sanitary and phytosanitary measures, 
and it would be important to incorporate them into this mechanism. Australia has a strict 
inspection and quarantine regime and should therefore step up its efforts to simplify its legislation on biosecurity. 
 Although Australia's average tariff in the manufacturing sector is among the lowest at 3.3%, 
there are still higher-than-average tariffs in sensitive sectors such as the textiles, WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  plastics and automotive industries. The automotive industry is the sector that receives 
the most government support, with preferential government procurement policies and favourable tax policies which we would like to see streamlined and ultimately abolished. 
 As regards the macroeconomic environment, although Australia has the world's fifth-highest 
per capita GDP and is the 12
th largest economy in the world, it has recorded a number of 
variables in recent years that could pose a serious problem in the future: 
o A rising rate of unemployment, forecast to reach 6.5% by June 2015. 
o An increase in Australia's external debt, which rose from close to US$600 billion 
 in 2009/2010 to almost US$800 billion in 2013/2014. 
o Despite significant depreciation in recent months, the Australian dollar still remains 
 moderately overvalued, according to the IMF. An accommodative monetary policy 
 would appear to be the most appropriate in order to remedy this situation. 
 Lastly, Australia needs to transit away from a purely resource-based growth path. 
Its exports largely depend on raw materials, particularly the mining sector, which makes the 
economy vulnerable and highly reliant on this sector. Foreign direct investment has recently 
been concentrated in mining, while other sectors lagged behind. According to the IMF's 2014 annual assessment, mining investment has acco unted for almost half of Australia's GDP 
growth in recent years and is projected to fall sharply in the near term; it is therefore 
advisable to recalibrate investment and direct it towards non-resource sectors. 
4.48.  Before concluding, we would like to thank the Au stralian delegation for its work in preparing 
the seventh review of its trade policy and for its efforts in responding to the questions that we 
submitted to it. We wish it every success with the outcome of this process. 
BRAZIL 4.49.  Australia has registered a good economic perfor mance since its last Trade Policy Review. In 
the period 2010-14, stable GDP growth rates of 2.6% on average were registered. Though the 
2008 economic and financial crisis has caused GDP gr owth to slow down worldwide, the effects of 
the crisis were comparatively milder in Australia than in other developed countries, a tribute to its 
resilience. 
4.50.  Social indicators have also performed well. There has been a 4.7% decrease in income 
inequality and unemployment remains below 6%.  
4.51.  Australia continues to encourage foreign investment that is consistent with its national 
interests. However, foreign invest ment restrictions are maintained for certain sectors considered to 
be sensitive, such as airports, banking, residential real estate, telecommunications and transportation, including aviation and shipping. Though we can discern the reasons behind such 
restrictions, they do not fit well with Australia's strong advocacy for trade liberalization. 
4.52.  Bilateral trade flows with Brazil have been show ing persistent decline, falling 40% during the 
review period. Brazil exports fell even more, by 50%. The total two-way trade for the last fiscal 
year stood at US$1.4 billion. Brazil exported US$600 million, including medicines, engineering 
equipment, juices and coffee. Australia, for its part, exported US$814 million; coal, oil, nickel and aluminium as the main items. 
4.53.  Bilateral services trade amounted to US$760 million in the last fiscal year, mainly due to 
tourism, but of a particular variety: the growing interest of Brazilian students in Australian 
educational services. It is worthy to notice that Australian universities and research centers hosted 7.6% of all students receiving scholarship from the Brazilian Academic Mobility Program "Science 
without Borders" in the period 2012-14. 
4.54.  Australian investments in Brazil reached US$13 billion in 2013, of which US$8 billion as 
direct investment. As a destination of Brazilian FDI, Australia has attracted the interest of a variety 
of companies - from food processing to mining in dustries, from bus parts to cosmetics companies. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.55.  As Brazil, Australia is a democratic, multicultural and mega-biodiverse country of continental 
dimensions. This set of characteristics makes it the more challenging to align the regulation of the economy and the needs of a diverse society.   
4.56.  In the WTO we share a key common endeavour: to see an ambitious dismantling of the 
many barriers remaining in the international trade of agricultural goods. We have been closely 
cooperating in this area since the early years of the Uruguay Round. As the coordinators of the G-20 group of developing countries and of the Ca irns Group of agricultural demanders with a 
particular interest in agriculture, Brazil and Australia work intensely for a successful conclusion of a 
post-Bali work programme that substantially cuts subsidies, tariffs and other distortions to trade. 
4.57.  My delegation has submitted a few questions and thanks Australia for its replies. Let me 
conclude by wishing the Australian Delegation a very successful Trade Policy Review. 
CHINA 
4.58.  Australia pursues the policy of trade and investment liberalization. Since the last review, 
Australia has excelled in economic performance among developed economies. China appreciates 
the continuous endeavour of Australia to open its market and promote trade and investment 
liberalization. 
4.59.  Australia has always been an important actor and a staunch supporter of the WTO, and 
Ambassador Hamish McCormick together with his Geneva team have played a positive and 
constructive role in this regard. We noticed that Australia is pacing up its domestic ratification process of Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). We hope that Australia could make concerted efforts with other WTO Members to complete the post-Bali working programme on time, take TFA 
as an impetus to further liberalize trade and investment, and contribute to the conclusion of the 
Doha Round as soon as possible and to the re inforcement and development of the multilateral 
trading system. With regard to the plurilateral  negotiations, China sings high praise of the 
coordinating and guiding role played by Australia as the Chair of negotiation on EGA. We look 
forward to advancing the negotiation with Australia and other parties for an early tripe-win among trade, environment and development. 
4.60.  China and Australia are important trade and investment partners to each other. During the 
review period, bilateral economic and trade cooper ation continued to develop in a rapid and sound 
manner. China is currently the largest trading part ner, source of imports and export market, as 
well as a major source of overseas tourists of Australia. China has also become Australia's most 
important export destination of energy and mi neral products. As pointed out in Australia's 
Government report, Australia has benefited from China's strong economic growth and demand over the past decade. On 17 November 2014, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abbott 
jointly announced that the negotiation of China- Australia Free Trade Agreement was substantively 
concluded. The Agreement was initiated in February this year and will be officially signed upon the completion of its legal review. The implementation of this comprehensive and quality FTA will help 
tap the great potential of complementary advantages and mutual benefit between the two 
economies, and is bound to facilitate the sustained and diversified development of bilateral trade and investment cooperation. China and Australia are also involved in productive collaboration and dialogue in the RECEP negotiation, as well as the mechanisms of APEC and G-20, etc. 
4.61.  Meanwhile, we have followed with interest Australia's policy changes during the review 
period, for example the introduction of Jobs  Act 2013, IP Laws Amendment Act 2012 and tax 
reform and their possible impact on Chinese enterprises. We also raised questions on certain 
issues concerned by our domestic industries, incl uding the transparency of FIRB screening process, 
local content requirement, import risk assessment,  subsidies and tariff peaks in certain sectors, 
and building of a legal system regarding the manufacturing and import of traditional Chinese 
medicine (TCM). We thank the Australian delegation for their responses to China's questions, 
which we will go through carefully. 
4.62.  Last but not least, I would like to congratulate the Bulgarian Ambassador Atanas Atanassov 
Paparizov on serving as the Chair of the TPR Body. You can count on us for full support. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  GUATEMALA 
4.63.  For several decades now, Guatemala and Australia have enjoyed good relations based on 
close cooperation in a number of areas. As members of the Cairns Group, our countries have been working together to promote agricultural trade reform. Our cooperation was also reflected in the 
United Nations Security Council in 2013, when Australia and Guatemala both served as 
non-permanent members of the Council. Another significant aspect of our joint work has been Australia's participation as an extra regional observer in the Central American Integration System 
(SICA) since 2011. 
4.64.  Our trade balance chiefly consists of coffee,  oils and vegetable materials exported by 
Guatemala and paper and paper products, dairy products, processed vegetables, and pipes and tubes imported from Australia. It has risen steadily in recent years, and we believe that there is 
considerable potential for growth in many sector s, such as foods and beverage, manufactures, and 
information technology products. Platforms for sustained dialogue, such as the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR), established by the Australian Government in 2001, and the 
Forum for East Asia Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), are helping to foster communication and 
identify opportunities for joint work. 
4.65.  Turning to the current review of Australia's trade policy, we note the policy of openness 
pursued by the authorities in spite of the economic crisis, the reduction in documentation 
requirements, the consolidation of computerized customs clearance, and the implementation of 
important trade facilitation measures. As to Australia's declining position among the most competitive economies, we hope that the country's structural reforms will rapidly lead to higher 
average multifactor productivity. 
4.66.  Guatemala acknowledges the efforts made by Au stralia during the period covered by this 
report. We welcome the replies to the questions su bmitted in the context of this review and wish 
the Australian delegation a successful conclusion to their country's trade policy review. 
CANADA 4.67.  Let me first welcome Patricia Holmes and the delegation. I am not going to spend much 
time on all the similarities between Canada and Australia; we are both of continental size, we are 
both mislabelled as resource-based economies despite 70-75% of our respective economies being based on services; and we are two countries that are deeply committed to sound fiscal and monetary policies, to continuous structural reform and to increased competitiveness and 
productivity. As a result, our relationship is not only one of trade and investment, but also of 
public and private-sector ties and people-to-people ties that are very deep indeed. 
4.68.  I think we have already heard a good deal of consensus around our assessment, reflected in 
the Chair's opening remarks, reflected in Ms Holmes' overview and reflected in the discussant's 
assessment. We have something to admire, which is an ongoing commitment to sound economic policies and principles and a record of success. Despite recent challenges – such as recent increase 
in unemployment, recent increase in its fiscal deficit, or increased volatility affecting its currency – 
this does not diminished what is truly an impressive record.  
4.69.  On the other hand, we have also heard a consensus that the challenge of increased 
competitiveness and productivity, reducing red tape, increasing labour flexibility, as elements of 
achieving that, is in fact an on-going process and remains very much a work in progress, and this 
beyond the special challenge, to some extent unique to Australia, of diversifying beyond natural resources. In that context, trade is rightly recognized by Australia as a major catalyst and 
enhancer of achieving that competitiveness and pr oductivity, and its record speaks for itself. We 
have also heard that leadership of the Cairns Group, the contributions of Australia here to the WTO, in particular in the work of the WTO Committee on Agriculture, where it plays an active role, 
in addition to and over and above its leadership on TISA, Environmental Goods Agreement, as 
others have mentioned.  
4.70.  Let me also observe, because it has not been highlighted yet, that Australia's active pursuit 
of bilateral and regional trade pacts is demonstrab ly a complement to its efforts here to support 
multilateral liberalization. Here too, there is great similarity to Canada, given our own recent WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  experience in concluding the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade 
Agreement, our ongoing negotiations with Japan and others, and our joint participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. 
4.71.  Having said all that, there are just a few areas that I think I am obliged to mention, where 
Canada considers that some improvements can be made. First, as others have mentioned, in the 
area of government procurement there are a number of policies at both the Commonwealth and State/Territory levels that provide undo incentives for the purchase of "local" goods and services 
and tilt procurement to domestic small and medium-sized enterprises. These policies not only 
disadvantage foreign suppliers but also potentially increase the costs of procurement to the public 
purse, which is contrary to the very goals we have heard of more competitiveness and thus "best value for money". We welcome Australia's seekin g to join the WTO Agreement on Government 
Procurement (GPA) and we look forward to work ing with them to improve these practices.  
4.72.  A second area where advancements can be made relates to the involvement of the private 
sector in infrastructure investment. A number of Australian Sates/Territories are in the process of 
either renewing or replacing existing infrastructu re or undertaking new initiatives. Institutional 
investors in the market, including some Australian-based firms, have identified issues related to the costs of bidding, the timelines associated with the decision-making process as impediments to 
their pursuit of these opportunities. Improvements in these areas would attract a broader range of 
potential partners, including many firms and institutional investors from Canada and elsewhere abroad, which again would lead to enhanced ou tcomes for both Governments, investors and 
taxpayers.  
4.73.  Finally, while I won't get onto the details here, our advance questions sought clarifications 
regarding certain aspects affecting imports, including declaration audits, Australia's intentions to implement a Country of Origin Labelling framework, as well as on the intellectual property side, a 
series of questions on the patent regime. We cert ainly appreciate the answ ers provided last week, 
which we continue to evaluate. We may have follow-up questions in due course. Let me in the meantime invite and encourage Australia to keep Members informed of further developments in 
these areas. 
4.74.  Let me express my gratitude to you for your insightful introduction, to Ms Holmes for the 
comprehensive overview, to the discussant for plac ing trade policy in a broader context work and 
again for the written answers already provided. You have created a high bar for Canada's trade 
policy review in June.  
THE
 SEPARATE  CUSTOMS  TERRITORY  OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN  AND  MATSU 
4.75.  The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Pe nghu, Kinmen and Matsu is very pleased to 
see Australia being recognized as one of the most open economies in the world. Its economy 
recently was ranked the world's 12th largest in terms of nominal GDP and its GDP per capita the 5th highest in the world. The World Trade Atlas recently showed that we ranked the 6th place on 
the list of export destinations for Australian fuels and mining products, and the 15th place for 
Australia's exports of agricultural products. According to our statistics, Australia is now our 13th largest trading partner and we are its 12th largest. The total value of two-way trade registered between Australia and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu was 
close to US$11 billion in 2014. We believe that both our economies have benefited from an open 
international trading environment, but there is still room for further improvement in our economic relationship, either through the bilateral or the multilateral approach. Australia's announcement of 
its intention to seek accession to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) is one good 
example. We welcome Australia's continued strong commitment to the rule-based multilateral trading system.  
4.76.  We have noticed that over the period under review, Australia has continuously conducted 
institutional and legislative reforms in many areas, such as, customs clarification and valuation, technical standards and regulations, trade remedies, and banking and insurance sectors. However, in 2013, Australia became the 4th largest user of anti-dumping measures among WTO Members. 
Some export controls, such as the export monopoly on rice, have remained in place. Imported cars 
were disproportionately affected by the Special Luxury Car Tax compared with domestic cars. In WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  this particular regard, we would like to urge Australia to apply the relevant measures and policies 
with due consideration for their potential negative impact on trade. 
4.77.  Since last review, Australia economy has performed well relative to other developed 
economies. There are, however, challenges to be confronted, for example, the effects of its 
terms-of-trade, the rising proportion of the ageing population, and the continuing over-reliance on 
the mining sector. We encourage Australia to face up to these challenges by conducting the appropriate macroeconomic and structural policies sooner rather than later. 
4.78.  We have already submitted a number of questions to Australia in advance and we thank 
Australia for their written answers, which we shall study very carefully and may wish to come back to with further questions at a later stage. 
CHILE 
4.79.  Australia and Chile have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1945, i.e. 70 years of 
continuous and multifaceted work. The two countries also have shared interests and visions in the multilateral sphere. 
4.80.  For example, Australia and Chile were origin al signatories of the Antarctic Treaty of 1961, 
which bears witness to the importance that we accord to the environment. 
4.81.  The two countries are major southern hemisphere mining and agricultural economies that 
agree on the principles governing the multilater al trading system and lean towards trade and 
investment liberalization. This is evidenced by our participation in APEC and the ongoing negotiations towards the Trans-Pacific Partnershi p (TPP) Free Trade Agreement, as well as the 
joint work we are doing through the Cairns Group,  chaired by Australia, to reform agricultural 
trade, which we intend to make a priority in the WTO Doha Round. 
4.82.  In the WTO, our countries are also seeking to make headway towards a services agreement, 
which would help liberalize the services sector. 
4.83.  The two countries' natural Pacific-oriented focus as well as their desire to create new trade 
opportunities and, above all, ensure strict compliance with the principles governing multilateral trade, led to the signing of the Australia-Chi le Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 30 July 2008. 
4.84.  This FTA, the first signed by Australia with a Latin American country, is a comprehensive 
agreement that encompasses all the disciplines relating to trade in goods, services and investment, and it includes chapters on intellectual property and government procurement. 
4.85.  The Agreement does not establish lists of exceptions for both countries. In addition to 
providing tariff concessions, it facilitates the forging of economic alliances and mutual investment, 
streamlines regulations and standardizes customs procedures. Full liberalization (i.e. zero duty) 
has been in effect since 1 January of this year. 
4.86.  Australia was Chile's fifteenth-largest trading partner in 2014. Our bilateral trade has almost 
doubled since the entry into force of the FTA. 
4.87.  Australian investment in Chile amounted to US$571 million between the entry into force of 
the FTA in 2009 and 2012, 70% of which went into mining. 
4.88.  There are also other aspects of our relations that are worthy of mention: 
 Australia and Chile have a double taxation agreement and trilateral cooperation and 
 mining cooperation agreements; and 
 the "Australia-Chile Economic Leadership Forum: Asia-Pacific Platforms", focusing, inter 
 alia , on business and public policy challeng es in the energy, education and water 
 management sectors, took place in Santiago last December. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.89.  Chile values Australia's engagement in the Latin American regional integration processes, 
as demonstrated by its participation as an observer in the Pacific Alliance initiative launched in 2011 by Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile. 
4.90.  We note with considerable interest that the Australian economy remains open and 
competitive, although the report does indicate that  the public sector applies some export controls 
or quantitative restrictions and that Australia is the WTO's fourth largest user of anti-dumping and countervailing measures; there are also import restrictions for biosecurity reasons. We understand 
that these trade policy measures are the subject of ongoing evaluation at the domestic level. 
4.91.  International trade in goods and services accounts for only 40% of Australia's GDP. 
We are confident that the country still has considerable potential for future growth. 
4.92.  We were interested to note the reforms e nhanced or implemented during the review period, 
such as: (i) those relating to trade facilitation; (ii) the Consumer Law; (iii) a number of new 
powers implemented under the current labour market reform; (iv) the Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda; and (v) the clean energy proposals. 
4.93.  We also note the ongoing cuts in government support for productive sectors such as the 
textiles, clothing, footwear and leather industries. 
4.94.  We welcome the initiatives and measures taken by Australia to further improve fisheries 
management and thus ensure the sustainability of fish stocks. 
4.95.  We note with concern from the Secretariat report that the automotive industry continues to 
be assisted under preferential government procurement policies, tax policy and restrictions on the importation of second-hand vehicles. 
4.96.  We would also like to see a lowering of tariff protection for a number of sensitive 
agricultural products (such as cheese, certain vegetables, and certain oils and fats). 
4.97.  Australia shows a firm commitment to the mult ilateral trading system. We are therefore 
convinced that it will make an important contribution to the success of the next Ministerial 
Conference in Nairobi. 
SINGAPORE 
4.98.  We associate ourselves fully with the ASEAN statement earlier delivered by Malaysia. 
4.99.  Since its last TPR in 2011, Australia has responded well to the impact of the global financial 
crisis. A combination of Government stimulus, a freely-floating exchange rate policy and a resource boom, among other factors, helped Australia maintain macroeconomic stability and 
contain external vulnerabilities during this period. We note Australia's long term approach to drive 
economic growth by reducing red tape for busine sses, improving productivity and competitiveness, 
and helping small businesses. This would further enhance Australia's attractiveness as an 
investment destination. 
4.100.  Singapore and Australia are old friends. This year marks not just Singapore's 50
th year of 
independence, but also 50 years of bilateral relations with Australia. Our economic ties are close 
and longstanding, underpinned by strong trade and investment linkages. Last year, bilateral trade 
grew 2.6% year-on-year to S$25.5 billion, making Australia Singapore's 11th largest trading 
partner. Singapore was Australia's 5th largest trading partner in 2013. The bilateral investment 
relationship is also strong. Singapore investment s  i n  A u s t r a l i a  h a v e  b e e n  o n  a n  u p w a r d  t r e n d ,  
reaching $A 60.5 billion in 2013. This made Singapore Australia's 4th largest foreign investor. 
Similarly, Australia's investments into Singapore have also grown, reaching $A 35.4 billion in 2013. Today, there are over 4,000 Australian companies registered in Singapore. 
4.101.  A key driver of bilateral economic partnership is the Singapore-Australia Free Trade 
Agreement, which came into force in July 2003. It is a comprehensive agreement, covering tariff-free market access for goods, improved market access for services, trade facilitation and 
cooperation in key areas such as e-commerce, standards, intellectual property protection and WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  competition policy. Bilateral ties and economic linkages will strengthen further with the 
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was launched by Leaders at the 8th 
Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in August last year. We are confident that the CSP would deepen bilateral cooperation not only in economics and trade, but also in areas 
such as aviation and maritime connectivity, defe nce and security and people-to-people exchanges. 
We look forward to signing the CSP this year, as a fitting way to mark our 50
th anniversary of 
bilateral relations. 
4.102.  Singapore commends Australia's constructive role and contributions at international and 
regional platforms. At the WTO, Australia is an active Member and a strong defender of a 
rules-based multilateral trading system. Given Austra lia's strong trade facilitation efforts, we look 
forward to its ratification of the WTO Trade Fa cilitation Agreement soon. We look forward to 
Australia's accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. Australia is also a key 
partner in promoting regional trade and investment liberalization in APEC, and through its participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. 
We appreciate Australia's invitation for Singap ore to participate in the G-20 process in 2014 and 
would like to again commend Australia on its strong and effective chairmanship last year. 
4.103.  Finally, our delegation has always enjoyed excellent cooperation with Ambassador Hamish 
McCormick and his able team in Geneva. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership. 
We thank Australia for their timely responses to our questions and wish them every success in their seventh Trade Policy Review. 
NORWAY 
4.104.  As others, we would also like to commend Australia as one of the most open economies in 
the world, a country where trade liberalization is seen as a means in itself for economic growth and restructuring. At the same time, we are concerned to see that Australia in 2013 was the 4th 
largest user of anti-dumping measures in the WTO, as well as the long duration of some of their 
measures.   
4.105.  We note that over the review period, Australia, as other Members, has increased its focus 
on bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements wh ich are seen as complements to the multilateral 
trading system which remains a high priority. Markets in Asia have been prioritized, with new agreements concluded with important markets such as Malaysia, Japan and China. Developments in international trade and foreign direct investment patterns during the review period continue to 
reflect the rising importance of China as Australia's main export market (especially for mining 
products). As mentioned by the discussant, a slowdown in China could have potential consequences for the overall development of Australia's economy. 
4.106.  Norway and Australia enjoy close political cooperation, enabled by our many common 
values and similar mindset. We cooperate closely on the multilateral stage.  
4.107.  We have certain business interests in common, and can complement each other in various 
areas. More than 60 Norwegian companies have operations in Australia, mainly in the oil and 
gas-sector in Western Australia but we also see increasing interest from Norwegian business within the defence sector and services (mainly maritime).   
4.108.  We note that Australia has very recently introduced an Energy White Paper where the 
importance of fossile fuels in the energy mix is emphasized. At the same time, consultations are 
continuing concerning the renewable energy target. We would hope that the Australian delegation would share some information about the new policy developments here. 
4.109.  Australia and Norway are major energy-exporting countries. We have abundant oil and gas 
resources, and we are both large gas exporters. We  find it very interesting that Australia in 2018 
expects to be the world's largest exporter of LNG.  This would open up possibilities for new areas of 
cooperation between Australian and Norwegian industries. 
4.110.  The mining sector is very important for the economy of Australia, accounting for 55% of its 
exports. At the same time, the external balance is to a large extent influenced by commodity prices, and the share of commodities in external tr ade is increasing. The overall economy as is the WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  case for the Norwegian economy is therefore expose d to fluctuations in oil prices and prices for 
mining products. At the same time, we note however, that trade in goods and services only account for 40% of the GDP. 
4.111.  Norway and Australia share a strong and unwavering commitment to the WTO. Norway 
commends Australia's efforts as a staunch supporter of a strong multilateral system and for its 
efforts in negotiations in the Doha-round. Australia is a consistent and constructive partner that contributes greatly to the process and in working hard to find solutions for bringing the 
negotiations forwards.  
4.112.  Norway and Australia both participate actively in the TiSA negotiations. We appreciate 
Australia's collaboration on particularly maritime, telecommunications and energy services. In relation to the TPR, we note that Australia maintains foreign equity caps in both the maritime 
services area and in telecom, which is contrary  to the overall open nature of the Australian 
economy. We also welcome the review under way on the Australian cabotage system and would encourage further liberalization of this important sector. 
4.113.  We also take this opportunity to commend the Australian leadership in the negotiations on 
the environmental goods agreemen t (EGA). These negotiations will add constructively to the 
multilateral trading system, given the aim to multilateralize a future agreement. Also, a 
liberalization of environmental goods will contribu te to dealing with the climate challenge. Norway 
strongly supports more Members to be part of the EGA initiative, and shares the ambition to 
finalize the negotiations before the UNFCCCs Convention of the Parties in Paris December 2015. 
4.114.  Finally, Norway appreciates the bold action Australia has taken in being the first country in 
the world to introduce legislation on plain packag ing of tobacco products. This is an important 
piece of legislation to protect public health and is in line with international commitments under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. As ever ybody is well aware, this measure is subject to 
dispute settlement, and Norway is a third-party.  
4.115.  In closing, we would like to express our confidence that this review will be useful both for 
Australia and its trading partners. We will study the responses to our written questions carefully. 
INDONESIA 
4.116.  We would like to align ourselves with the stat ement made by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN. 
4.117.  We are pleased to be here today to participate in the Trade Policy Review of Australia. We 
appreciate Australia's contribution in the WTO and we believe Australia has a strong commitment 
to give its best efforts to ensure a successful  "Post-Bali" and conclude the DDA negotiations. 
4.118.  We note with positivity that Australia, as one of the most open economies in the world, has 
performed well relative to many other advanced economies since its last Trade Policy Review. 
However, we also note that Australia faces a major economic challenge, with potential trade policy 
implications, in formulating appropriate macroeconomic and structural policies to facilitate market-driven adjustment to the effects of its de clining terms-of-trade; the appreciation of the 
Australian dollar and the rising proportion of older people; as well as to enhance economic 
diversification away from mining. 
4.119.  Nonetheless, we are very much confident that Australia will overcome this challenge with 
its economic growth expected to pick up in 2015-16, as Australia's economic fundamental are 
solid. 
4.120.  On a bilateral side, I want to emphasize that Australia is an important trading partner for 
Indonesia. Trade balance between both countries has grown at an average of 9.7% between 2010 
and 2014. In fact, last year our bilateral trade increased by 13.5%, from US$9.4 billion in 2013 to 
US$10.7 billion in 2014, with Indonesia's export to Australia reaching US$5.03 billion and import reaching US$5.65 billion. 
4.121.  Furthermore, both Indonesia and Australia are parties of the AANZFTA since 2010 and we 
are currently in the process of negotiating a bila teral RTA. These reflect strong economic ties WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  between both countries, and we have every confidence that our countries' economic partnership 
will continue to grow in the future. 
4.122.  Nevertheless, Indonesia would like to request further information on some of Australia's 
trade policies. These concerns include the imposition of high average tariff rates for 
non-agriculture products; complexities regarding tariff concessions; farm finance; investment 
restrictions in the telecommunication sector; and implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture Stream programme. 
4.123.  We have submitted a number of specific questions to clarify some individual points on 
these and other issues. We thank the delegation of Australia for the quick response to our questions. We will study the responses and come up with further clarification when and as necessary. 
4.124.  Finally, please allow me to once more reiterate how both Governments have been engaged 
in a mutually beneficial trade relationship. The Government and people of both countries have also long maintained a strong and friendly bilateral relation much beyond trade. As such, I would like to 
conclude my remarks by expressing my profound appreciation to the Australian delegation, and 
wish Australia every success in its seventh Trade Policy Review. 
THE
 PHILIPPINES 
4.125.  The Philippines fully associates itself with the ASEAN statement delivered by Malaysia. 
4.126.  Australia is globally engaged, economically open and competitive, that has since developed 
into an open, dynamic and highly productive economy with considerable strengths, particularly in mining and agriculture/food processing, and financial, education, and tourism services. 
4.127.  With its strong international engagement, Australia is the 12th largest economy globally, 
with the 5th highest GDP per capita. Australia's trade with the world is equivalent to 42% of its GDP with the economy's high reliance on trade accounts for a sustained GDP figure that has not 
gone below 25% for more than a century. Australia's robust financial foundations and favourable 
terms of trade made it the only developed country to avoid recession during the global financial crisis.  
4.128.  The Philippines and Australia share common pers pectives on many regional, economic and 
security issues. The two countries share a common interest in regional affairs through various fora such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regi onal Forum. Both Australia and the Philippines 
are active members of the Cairns Group, a coalition of 19 agricultural exporting countries.  
4.129.  At the bilateral level, the Philippines and Australia have an expansive and deep relationship 
through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free  Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), ASEAN's most 
ambitious and comprehensive trade deal to date. Now, both Philippines and Australia are also 
involved in ASEAN's newest regional economic integration initiative through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations.  
4.130.  Total two-way merchandise trade between the Philippines and Australia has been 
continuously growing; increasing 6.6% from 2013 to 2014. Major items include processed food, auto parts, furniture and homeware. Apart from the trade in goods, services have also become an increasingly important component of the Philippines' bilateral trade with Australia. The trade in 
services is dominated by business process outsourcing, education-related travel, personal travel 
and business travel, reflecting both countries' strong people-to-people links. The latest Tholons report identified Australia as the fastest growing region for Philippines' BPO revenues accounting 
for more than 9%. 
4.131.  Investment flows are also robust, and hot areas for investment from Australia into the 
Philippines include business process outsourcing, auto parts and related manufacturing, 
shipbuilding, agribusiness/food processing.  WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.132.  In summary, the Philippines and Australia enjoy a warm and close friendship, founded on 
historical ties, shared values and our common national, as well as regional interests, and a flourishing economic relationship. The breadth and depth of our relations cuts across many areas, from development assistance and immigration issues, to regional and security cooperation, trade 
and investment.   
4.133.  The Philippines congratulates Australia for its seventh policy review and would like to wish 
the delegation, led by Ms Patricia Holmes, Acting First Assistant Secretary of the Office of Trade 
Negotiations, a successful Trade Policy Review. Our appreciation also goes to the Secretariat for 
preparing a comprehensive report and H.E. Ms Ir ene Young (Hong Kong, China) for her insightful 
comments as discussant. 
UNITED
 STATES 
4.134.  Australia is a leader in the trading community. It is a committed advocate of trade 
liberalization, unilaterally and on a multilateral, regional, plurilateral, and bilateral basis. It is a global leader in advocating thoughtful solutions to policy issues that we all face. A commitment to 
open, competitive markets has been the foundation of Australia's trade policies. That approach, 
and the benefits it has generated, has made Australia's trade policy illustrative for all of us. And in the coming years, we will also learn from watching how Australia sustains that approach as it 
adjusts to a tapering of the resource boom that has powered its growth for the past two decades. 
4.135.  Australia plays an active role in the multil ateral trading system, where agreements have 
the potential to generate the greatest overall benefits. We have valued Australia's robust support for multilateral trade liberalization through the DDA negotiations. We look forward to working with 
Australia to bring the ITA expansion negotiations to a successful conclusion as soon as possible. 
We are working closely with Australia in the Environmental Goods Agreement negotiations, and 
believe strongly that one of the best ways we ca n all respond to the environmental challenges our 
world faces is by achieving our goal of free trade in environmental goods throughout the world. We 
commend Australia's sustained input and leadership in the negotiations on fisheries subsidies as a Friend of Fish. We are encouraged by Australia's progress toward ratification of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement. We welcome Australia's anno uncement last year that it will seek to join the 
Government Procurement Agreement. And, of course , we are extremely appreciative of Australia's 
role as a founding co-chair of the Trade in Services Agreement, commonly known as TiSA. We look forward to continuing these important multilateral efforts with Australia, to open markets and 
address important and emerging issues for the benefits of all Members. 
4.136.  Like us, Australia believes that ambitious bilateral Free Trade Agreements can further open 
markets and encourage multilateral liberalization. Our bilateral FTA, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade 
Agreement (AUSFTA), entered into force in 2005. Ten years later, it remains one of the most 
ambitious trade agreements either of our countries has ever negotiated. It has also helped lead to significant expansion of two-way trade and investment, as we sought and anticipated when we 
negotiated the agreement just over a decade ago; and we look forward to continued growth in the 
coming years.   
4.137.  Reflecting its deep commitment to trade liberal ization, Australia has played a leading role 
in regional trade arrangements. Australia was a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1989, and year after year, Australia has made valuable contributions 
to APEC's important efforts to promote trade and investment liberalization in the Asia-Pacific.   
4.138.  We are now working with Australia in the most ambitious effort yet to promote regional 
trade and investment liberalization, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Australia was, like the 
United States, one of the founding members of the TPP negotiation in 2009, which has since expanded to 12 countries and could potentially expa nd to other economies in the region. In TPP, 
we are seeking to liberalize trade and investment  on a comprehensive basis, and are tackling a 
broad range of issues with relevance to the way trade happens in the 21st century. These are ambitious objectives, but the 12 TPP partners are committed to them, in part because we know an ambitious agreement is one that will generate th e greatest benefits for its Members, and for our 
citizens. We are committed to a TPP that is fully consistent with our obligations here at the WTO 
and that contributes to a stronger multilateral system. After five years, we are approaching the WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  conclusion of the TPP negotiation, and we would like to commend Australia for the leadership role 
it has played in helping shape this important initiative.  
4.139.  These important initiatives all reflect a strong record of Australian trade leadership in the 
region and in the world. That said, there are a few areas where further advancements could be 
useful, or where recent developments have not appeared consistent with Australia's historic 
support for liberalization. 
4.140.  As a leading trader of agricultural products, we urge the Australian Government to ensure 
that its SPS regulations and requirements, an d the review process for establishing those 
requirements, are the least trade-restrictive possible.  
4.141.  The Secretariat notes in its report that Australia has pursued reforms toward developing a 
biosecurity system that facilitates trade while managing risks from imported products. We 
welcome that process and look forward to working with Australia in the future.  
4.142.  The Secretariat's report noted concerns by some countries that Australia's process of 
aligning its import policy on BSE with the World Animal Health Organization standards has delayed 
the finalization of risk assessments for beef. We urge Australia to take account of international 
standards, including those of Codex and OIE, when developing its regulations and import 
requirements.  
4.143.  We note that last year, Australia completed FTAs with three of its four largest trading 
partners. However, it appears that the comprehe nsiveness of some of these agreements may be 
questionable, with growing shares of current trad e excluded from tariff elimination and growing 
numbers of products excluded altogether. We encourage Australia to sustain its historic 
commitment to comprehensive market access outcomes reflected in its previous agreements, and 
to be mindful of the concerns reflected in GATT Article XXIV. 
4.144.  Overall, there is no question that Australia  has been an important voice in the global 
trading system, and a valued partner in efforts to open markets and address important issues. We 
look forward to further productive cooperation with Australia, and in particular to working in close partnership to conclude the TPP negotiation in the near future. 
JAPAN 
4.145.  Australian economy, which is considered as one of the most open economies in the world 
according to the report by the Secretariat, ha s performed well under the review period. Japan 
hopes that Australia will continue its economic growth maintaining its open economic policies. 
4.146.  Australia and Japan have further deepened our cooperation as strategic partners with 
comprehensive and mutual complementary relationship in the Asia-Pacific region. Last January, Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, which was concluded as an outcome of 
negotiations over more than seven years, entered into force. Australia is the largest trade partner 
among the countries with which Japan has ever concluded a bilateral economic partnership agreement. Japan hopes that Japan-Australia EPA will develop our economic relationship further 
and will contribute to maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system under the 
WTO. 
4.147.  Now let me turn to trade policies. We have two points to make here: the WTO and the 
RTAs. 
4.148.  Regarding the WTO, Japan highly appreciates Australia's contribution over the years to the 
multilateral trading system under the WTO. We understand that Australia considers an early conclusion of the DDA negotiations important as Japan does. Japan will be engaged in working 
closely with Australia and other WTO Members toward the early conclusion of the DDA. 
4.149.  According to Australia's answers to our advance written questions, Australia is expected to 
complete its domestic procedure regarding the Tr ade Facilitation Agreement before the middle of 
2015. Japan hopes Australia's early approval for the TFA. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.150.  Our appreciation and welcome also go to Australia's ongoing work towards joining the 
Government Procurement Agreement, notably since the official announcement of its launch last November by the Trade and Investment Minister Mr. Robb. Japan is looking forward to closely cooperating with Australia through various possible opportunities and meeting formats. In these 
opportunities, we would also be interested in hearing updates of the progress of Australia's 
above-mentioned work, including the results of the recent public comments by stakeholders and interested parties. 
4.151.  In addition, Australia actively participates in plurilateral efforts for further trade 
liberalization such as negotiations of the ITA expansion and the EGA. Australia has also taken an important role in TiSA negotiations. Japan highly commends Australia's positive contributions to these activities in Geneva. 
4.152.  Regarding RTAs, the report by the Secretariat mentions that Australia put into force two 
FTAs under the review period with the Republic of Korea and Malaysia, in addition to the Japan-Australia EPA. Australia also concluded FTA with China in November 2014. Moreover, 
Australia, together with Japan, actively participates in the negotiations of the TPP and the Regional 
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Japan highly commends Australia's endeavours for trade liberalization, and hopes that these RTAs will contribute to further complementing and 
strengthening the multilateral trading system. 
4.153.  Finally, I would like to touch upon a specific point that is anti-dumping. 
4.154.  According to the report by the Secretariat, Au stralia is one of the world's major users of 
anti-dumping measures. The report also mentions that Australia has been going through various 
reforms pertaining to the legislative, institut ional and procedural framework on anti-dumping 
under the review period. However, our industry is  still of the view that more transparency is 
needed in the determination of dumping, such as calculations of the costs and its final assessment. 
They also point out that the procedures of de termining dumping by the Anti-Dumping Commission 
often take a long time. Japan expects that Australia addresses these issues appropriately through its ongoing reform. 
HONG
 KONG,  CHINA 
4.155.  Hong Kong, China (HKC) and Australia enjoy a close relationship that is underpinned by 
strong investment and trade ties. Our bilateral trade in goods and services was worth US$6.6 billion in 2014 and US$5.7 billion in 2012, respectively. Australia is also the sixth major 
destination of our outward direct investment in 2013. More than 170 regional headquarters, 
regional offices and local offices were set up by Australian companies in HKC as of June 2014. 
4.156.  HKC and Australia are both strong advocates for trade and investment liberalization. We 
value Australia as an important partner and trusted friend in the regional and multilateral trade 
fora in pursuit of our shared commitment to free trade.   
4.157.  We are pleased to note that Australia's documentation requirements are kept to the 
minimum and that its computerized customs clearance facilitates virtually all imports and exports. 
It is working towards creating a single window for clients and developing a user-friendly and comprehensive trusted trader/authorized economic operator programme, the latter to be operational by July 2015. These and other efforts, such as the simplification of Australia's duty 
concessions scheme and commitment to fund assistan ce to partner countries in the area of trade 
facilitation, are exemplary and set a good example for other economies to follow.  
4.158.  We are also pleased to note Australia's plan to complete the domestic ratification process 
for the Trade Facilitation Agreement by mid-2015. We hope this will encourage other Members to 
move ahead and accelerate the entry into force of the Agreement so as to realize its benefits as soon as possible.  
4.159.  We appreciate that Australia has bound 96.6% of its tariff lines and does not impose 
nuisance tariff on imports. We also welcome Australia's unilateral efforts in lowering the tariff on apparel and certain finished textile articles at the beginning of this year, which nevertheless remains significantly higher and shows the most significant tariff escalation. Despite a low average WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  tariff rate (3%) and the large share of duty-free items (47.6%), tariff peaks remain a potential 
distortion and thus a source of inefficiency, most notably in the category of transport equipment. A few tariff lines (0.3%) remain subject to non- ad valorem  rates and this tends to conceal relatively 
high tariff rates. We would encourage Australia to make further improvement to its tariff structure. 
4.160.  We are pleased to know that Australia is working towards its possible accession to the GPA. 
We welcome Australia's interest in the GPA and look forward to its application for accession to the GPA. Meanwhile, we would encourage Australia to continue its efforts to open up its government 
procurement market. 
4.161.  HKC, together with Australia and some other WTO Members, is now actively engaged in 
the negotiation on the Environmental Goods Agreemen t (EGA), with the aim of liberalizing trade in 
environmental goods. We believe that the EGA will contribute to the multilateral trading system 
and provide impetus to the DDA negotiations. We look forward to working closely with Australia 
and other participants towards the timely and successful conclusion of the EGA. 
4.162.  We are pleased to note that Australia's average applied MFN tariff for agricultural products 
is 1.4%. Australia's total support for agriculture remains low, with budgetary assistance declining 
in value terms to about 0.1% of the GDP. This assi stance continues to be delivered in the form of 
non-trade distorting (Green Box) budgetary outlay s. Besides, Australia, being the Chair of the 
Cairns Group, is in the forefront of the Agriculture negotiations. We appreciate the contribution 
and efforts made by Australia to advance the negotiations. We look forward to its continuous leadership with other active Members to overcome the present difficulties and take the negotiations towards an early and fruitful conclusion. 
4.163.  On services, we commend Australia's liberalizatio n efforts, such as regulatory reforms, tax 
reforms and privatization of government-owned entities. The services sector is the mainstay of Australia's economy, as it contributes significantly to the country's GDP as well as employment. 
From our experience, continued liberalization of trade in services is conducive to further and 
sustainable economic development. It is also a proven recipe for attracting foreign investment. As such, we encourage Australia to continue to open  up its services markets to foreign investment, 
for instance, by allowing foreign vessels registration in the Australian General Register or the 
International Shipping Register.  
4.164.  Finally, I would like to thank Australia for its response to our written questions. I would 
also like to commend the energy and enthusiasm of the very capable Ambassador, Mr. Hamish 
McCormick. I wish Australia a very fruitful Trade Policy Review over these two days.   
THE
 RUSSIAN  FEDERATION 
4.165.  The Russian delegation would like to welcome the seventh Trade Policy Review of Australia. 
We fully support this important mechanism which allows us to exchange views on the trade policy 
of WTO Members, in general, and today of Australia, in particular.  
4.166.  We appreciate the continuous growth of Aust ralian economy for the past 23 years. As a 
result, the Australians enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world. We observe with 
interest how Canberra is coping with the challenges of implementing structural reform measures aimed at diversification of national economy and, in particular, at the increase of competitiveness in the non-mining sectors. 
4.167.  Over the years, the Russian Federation and Australia have been developing broad 
cooperation in many areas, including in trade and investment. During recent years, our trade turnover showed a slight upward trend. The amount of our bilateral trade in 2014 was equal to 
US$800 million. We believe that our countries have the potential to further enhance trade in goods 
and services and to increase the flow of investments.  
4.168.  Nevertheless, we would like to highlight some of Australia's trade and investment 
measures that, we believe, need more attention. Russia has submitted a number of questions 
regarding FDI restrictions, distribution of po wers between the Commonwealth and six States, 
certain SPS measures related to food standards setting, as well as taxation policy (WET act). 
These issues are of particular interest to us.  WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.169.  We appreciate the answers provided by Australia for this meeting. However, some of them 
lack sufficient justification and need further explanations.  
4.170.  We are deeply concerned with a number of unilateral trade restrictive measures imposed 
by Australia in respect of the Russian Federation in  relation to the situation in Ukraine. We believe 
that these measures are not compatible with the WTO rules and we urge Australia to remove 
them. 
4.171.  We would like to present several follow-up comments with regards to the activities of the 
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC). 
4.172.  Our first concern deals with the support measures listed in paragraphs 3.97 and 3.98 of 
the Secretariat's report. In our view, these measures , with the exception of direct loans to buyers, 
may be considered as inconsistent with Australia's obligations under Article 3.1(a) of the SCM 
Agreement. If this is not the case, we would appreciate relevant explanations. 
4.173.  Second, we are concerned with the so-called "Australian content", mentioned in 
paragraph 3.98 of the Secretariat's report. We co nsider that maintenance of such requirement 
appears to be inconsistent with Australia's obligations under Article III of the GATT, as well as 
under the TRIMS Agreement. We kindly ask Australia to explain, what does the "Australian content" consist of, and how it corresponds with the mentioned WTO agreements. 
4.174.  In conclusion, we would like to thank the delegation of Australia, the Secretariat and of 
course, our esteemed Discussant, for their hard work done so far.  
COLOMBIA 4.175.  Australia is special, a continent unto itself and a megadiverse, multicultural country which 
is home to unique species. Its economic and trade performance is equally special in that Australia 
has experienced uninterrupted growth for more than 20 years and remains one of the most open economies in the world, with very high score s on the indices of economic development, 
ease of doing business and quality of life. 
4.176.  In particular, the Secretariat report underscores the progress made by Australia in 
trade-related matters since its previous review in 2011, such as the implementation of structural 
policy reforms aimed at raising the country's international competitiveness, cutting red tape, 
consolidating an increasingly transparent trade regime, and introducing a more business-friendly regulatory system. 
4.177.  We would also highlight the importance that Australia attaches to cooperation issues, 
and it has emerged as one of the leading contributors to Aid-for-Trade programmes. 
Equally important, it has an impeccable track record for submitting notifications in the different areas provided for in the WTO, and has commenced its domestic approval process to ratify the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement. 
4.178.  Lastly, there are the many regional or bilateral trade agreements negotiated by Australia 
with its trading partners, which entered into force, were signed, or were finalized during the period 
under review. More important still, all of this was accomplished while Australia continued to play a 
very active role in the multilateral trade negotiations. 
4.179.  Nonetheless, and although Australia's policy is based on the premise that trade openness, 
economic growth and improved living standards are strongly linked, its international trade 
accounts for around 40% of GDP. Australia's heavy dependence on commodity exports and foreign 
direct investment (FDI) in the mining sector also gives cause for concern, because this makes the country vulnerable to external shocks and a potential decline of FDI flows to the sector. 
4.180.  Mention should also be made, as indicated in the Secretariat report, of the State's 
involvement in the economy through government trading enterprises which provide services in a number of infrastructure sectors, and in particular the fact that such services are not always 
supplied on a fully commercial basis. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.181.  Moreover, sanitary and phytosanitary measures are not subject to a systematic 
cost-benefit analysis, as is for example the case of technical standards. 
4.182.  The screening of FDI in some economic sectors is a further point worthy of mention. 
This even led to a lowering of the country's investment component score on the 2015 Index of 
Economic Freedom. 
4.183.  Attention should also be drawn to the concerns voiced by entrepreneurs about Australia's 
high labour costs and the need to introduce a more flexible visa system for skilled workers from 
abroad, among other things. 
4.184.  I n  v i e w  o f  t h e  a b o v e ,  w e  e n c o u r a g e  A u s t r a l i a  t o  c o n t i n u e  w o r k i n g ,  a s  d e s c r i b e d  i n  i t s  
report, on its growth diversification policy based on non-primary sectors, considering that its economic performance is heavily reliant on the mining sector. 
4.185.  We also encourage it to continue playing an active role in the WTO and to 
provide trade-related investment support, by promoting the consolidation of a free, open, 
and stable multilateral trading system conducive to the successful conclusion of the Doha 
Development Agenda. 
4.186.  We wish Australia every success with the review of its trade policy. 
INDIA 
4.187.  India and Australia enjoy a close and multi-faceted partnership, underpinned by 
complementarities of our two economies, growing bilateral trade and investment flows and expanding people to people linkages. Both are strong, vibrant and multi-cultural democracies. These mutual complementarities and shared values provide a solid basis for greater cooperation 
and strengthening of bilateral linkages in diverse areas. Our bilateral trade has maintained steady 
growth with trade volume of about US$13 billion in 2013-14. India is fifth largest export market 
for Australia. The bilateral trade is in favour of Australia and we hope that we will be able to 
increasingly balance the trade while maintaining its overall positive direction.  
4.188.  India and Australia have launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation 
Agreement in 2011. We are working together with our Australian counterparts to conclude the 
CECA early. We believe that the bilateral CECA  would open up new opportunities for trade and 
investments for mutual benefit. We are also engaged with Australia within the framework of RCEP negotiations. Besides bilateral trade, two way investments, particularly Indian investments to Australia, have been growing in recent years. Several Indian firms have made investments in 
Australia and all the major Indian IT companies have a presence in Australia. All in all, we are 
upbeat about the potential for expanding our trade and economic ties in the coming years. 
4.189.  India notes the positive and steady growth , though less than the trend rate of 3%, 
Australia has achieved during the period under review notwithstanding uncertain global economic 
environment. Australia has experienced more than two decades of continuous economic growth, which is commendable. The economic outlook for the future remains positive, with the 
Government continuing to drive forward reforms to maintain an open economy, improve 
competitiveness and provide transparent and predic table policy environment. Despite Australia's 
robust economic fundamentals, the Australian economy face certain downside risks to its economic outlook posed by vulnerabilities to terms of trad e shocks owing to economic importance of the 
mining and resources sector, fluctuations in mining investments, and its aging population. The 
government however continues to navigate through these challenges and rebalancing growth towards the non-resources sector, and enhancing productivity. The overall positive trend in the 
Australian economy, compared to many other adva nced economies, is a source of comfort to the 
Asia-Pacific region and indeed the global economy.   
4.190.  In terms of trade policy measures, we note the unilateral reductions proposed by the 
Australian Government earlier this year in applied tariffs in apparel and certain textile products – a 
sector where Australia had maintained high tari ff. One of the areas where our exporters face 
market entry challenges relates to SPS measures for certain agriculture products. We hope that 
the Government will continue to review its fram ework for technical regulations and SPS measures, WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  including MRLs for certain chemicals and herbicides, to ensure that these are in line with relevant 
international standards and that the regulatory fr amework is not unduly burdensome to exporters. 
Similarly, additional measures by the Australian Government to facilitate temporary movement of skilled professionals, including through MRAs, woul d also give boost to services trade. We had 
posed some advance written questions to Australia and would like to thank Australian delegation 
for their responses, which will be reviewed by my authorities. 
4.191.  Finally, we very much appreciate the positive role played by Australia in the WTO and in 
the ongoing DDA negotiations. Both our countries have a shared interest in a strong and effective 
multilateral trading system and we look forward to working with Ambassador McCormick and his team as well as other Members in ensuring balanced outcomes in the ongoing negotiations to help conclude the Doha Round. With these words, my delegation would like to wish Australia a 
successful Trade Policy Review. 
THAILAND 4.192.  The bilateral trade between Australia and Thailand has been solid and positively developed 
over a long period of time. Australia is currently Thailand's eighth largest trading partner, eighth 
export destination, and twelfth import source. On the other hand, Thailand is Australia's seventh trading partner, eleventh export destination, and eighth import source. In 2014, our bilateral trade 
value was at US$14.7 billion, decreasing  from that of 2013 by 7.14%.   
4.193.  Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement or TAFTA was one of Thailand's first FTAs 
concluded with other countries. TAFTA has been effective since 2005, and over ten years of its implementation, our bilateral trade value has increased more than three times. On 26-27 March 
this year, the TAFTA Market Access Implementation Committee met for the second time in 
Canberra to review the implementation of TAFT A and to discuss further opportunities to expand 
the bilateral trade and investment. Thailand hopes that this close relationship will continue to grow 
in order to reinforce our trade and investment in the future.   
4.194.  Thailand and Australia also maintains the Senior Officials' Talks, the twelfth meeting of 
which was held in July 2014, where not only the issues of trade and investment but also other 
fields of cooperation were addressed, for exam ple, education, energy, sciences technology, and 
innovation. There is also the Thailand-Australia Business Council, where the two sides' private sectors meet and develop their business connection.  
4.195.  Despite the bilateral talks looking into the possibility of trade expansion, Thailand's 
agricultural exports to Australia, especially poultry and shrimp products, have been facing the 
restrictive SPS measures of Australia under the Australian Food Standard Code. We are looking forward to resolving this issue in the near future. 
4.196.  Regarding the multilateral trade perspective, Australia holds an exemplary role in this 
Organization with the transparent trade regime and a strong record of notifications, the openness of its economy and the continuation of structural policy reform in order to maintain not only its 
macroeconomic stability but also the efficient multilateral trading system as a whole. Thailand 
supports all the reform efforts of Australia which positively contribute to the global trade.  
4.197.  In this House, we would particularly like to commend Australia's active participation in the 
negotiations especially in the areas of trade facilitation and agriculture. We appreciate Australia's 
contributions towards the conclusion of the TFA. Furthermore, Thailand is grateful for Australia's 
leadership in the Cairns Group and hopes that the interests of all the Members in the WTO will be accommodated in the final outcome of the DDA negotiations and that Members can achieve a 
meaningful outcome for the Ministerial Conference in December.  
4.198.  In this review, Thailand submitted several questions to Australia, covering, among others, 
the government procurement policies, the Rice Marketing Board for the State of New South Wales, 
foreign investment, the definition of "defensive trade mark" under the Australian legislation and 
other aspects under Australia's IP regime. We th ank Australia for the timely response to our 
questions. Our authorities are studying the answers with great interest, and we  will follow up with 
further question, if necessary. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.199.  To conclude, Thailand would like to express its appreciation to Australia's delegation from 
Canberra for today's presentation. We especially wish to thank the Geneva-based delegation for the work we have been undertaking together. We look forward to deepening the relationship both 
between our capitals and our missions in Geneva. We wish Australia every success in this Trade 
Policy Review. 
ARGENTINA 4.200.  Australia has made an important contribution to the multilateral trading system since the 
establishment of the Cairns Group in 1986. The Group, which was created shortly before the 1986 
GATT Ministerial Conference in Punta del Este that launched the Uruguay Round, was the outcome 
of prior meetings between what are now the ME RCOSUR countries, Australia and New Zealand, 
all of which were concerned that the reform should provide multilateral rules for trade 
in agricultural products. 
4.201.  Australia has also made a valuable contribution over the years as regards another form of 
subsidy, namely fisheries subsidies, since it is an important member of the "Friends of Fish" group. 
4.202.  Almost 30 years later, we are facing the same impasse: agricultural subsidies, whether 
export subsidies or domestic support, and fisherie s subsidies require a commitment on the part of 
countries granting trade-distorting and environmentally harmful subsidies to make substantial 
headway in this year's negotiations on both issues, so that agreement can be reached on the 
post-Bali work programme. 
4.203.  As regards agricultural and fisheries subsidies, we would request that Australia prioritize its 
Doha Round-oriented endeavours within the Cairns and "Friends of Fish" groups to counter 
developed countries with a greater capacity to distort international markets and plunder marine 
resources. This will be the most relevant contribution that Australia can make in support of development. 
PAKISTAN 
4.204.  This is Australia's seventh Trade Policy Review and we are glad to note the healthy and 
positive trade trends that are maintained on a sustainable basis since their last TPR: Australia 
remains one of the most open economies in the world with sound macro- and micro-economic 
indicators showing a strong economic resilience even during the global financial crises. 
4.205.  We would like to commend Australia for its continued focus towards observing the rules of 
the game in economic and trade policies that have earned Australia the deserved international 
competitive ranking (12th biggest economy under the 2013 World Bank report). Thanks to their 
trade openness, playing a pro-active role at multilateral, regional and bilateral fronts, among others, following a disciplined trade regime. 
4.206.  It is noteworthy that Australia have undertaken unilateral tariff reductions on apparel and 
finished textile articles beginning 2015. We appreciate these measures, since more than 50% of total Pakistan's exports to Australia comprised Textile and clothing. 
4.207.  We also appreciate excellent collaboration between their risk analysis system and 
Pakistan's NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization), facilitating export of mangoes from Pakistan.  
4.208.  Also noteworthy are its efforts to the strengthening of IPR regulations, along with the 
changes in their anti-dumping regime, the reforms in the energy sector, and their sustainable 
policies in Agriculture. 
4.209.  In terms of the WTO technical assistance and training programmes for helping the 
developing and least-developed countries, Australia's efforts are indeed laudable. 
4.210.  Also, we note with significant interest the importance of Services' sector contributing more 
than 70% to its GDP, besides the 77% employme nt. Without doubt, services is the economy's 
backbone and while challenges lay ahead in this sector, Australia crucial role in TISA, and the WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  WTO's GATS are praiseworthy. And while there ar e some recommendations given by a forum as 
noted in the Secretariat report concerning its financial sector, we are positive that Australia would respond to those proposals, removing any market distortions for an efficient market allocation of financial sector.  
4.211.  And finally, I wish to appreciate Australia's commitment and support for a successful 
completion of the DDA. And here we commend the co nstructive role of H.E. Hamish McCormick in 
the WTO, Geneva. 
4.212.  We applaud Australia for its excellent Trade Po licy, and wish them all the success in their 
seventh Trade policy review. 
NIGERIA 4.213.  Since the global financial crisis and its previous Trade Policy Review in 2011, Australia has 
remained one of the most open economies in the world. This can be attributed to Australia's sound 
macroeconomic policies and wide-ranging structural reforms, which have contributed to its strong economic performance during the period under review. Nigeria therefore welcomes Australia's 
commitment to the multilateral trading system, which is supporting Australia's macroeconomic 
objectives. 
4.214.  Nigeria is happy to note that Australia's trade policy continues to be based on the premise 
that trade openness, economic growth and improved living standards are strongly linked; 
emphasis is placed on improving international competitiveness and market access overseas. Australia pursues a combined multilateral, regional, bilateral and unilateral approach to trade policy and is exemplary in the transparency of its trade regime. 
4.215.  During the review period, documentation requirements have remained minimal, and 
computerized customs clearance has facilitated virtually all imports and exports. Trade facilitation efforts included the simplification of Australia's duty concessions scheme, the enhancement of 
international cooperation, efforts to ratify the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and commitment 
to fund assistance to partner countries in this area. Customs valuation legislation was amended to ensure consistency with the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation, and transfer pricing policy 
practices have been clarified. Nigeria welcomes the measures and hope the measures would help 
realize the speeding up of movement of goods an d the flow of trade information across borders as 
well as improve the global competitiveness of thos e involved in international trade, promotes the 
development of a more predictable trading environm ent and contributes to global economic growth 
and poverty reduction. 
4.216.  At bilateral level, Australia and Nigeria ha ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding, 
covering political, economic, commercial, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. In this 
context, Australia and Nigeria have established the Trade and Investment Council whose aim is to 
identify and develop new business opportunities, in pa rticular mining, agriculture, financial services 
as well as energy. Since its establishment, Nigeria has witnessed an increase in the number of 
Australian mining companies operating in Nigeria with total investment running close to about 
$A 20 million. We therefore believe that Australia li ke Nigeria with substantial quantities of solid 
minerals can assist Nigeria with its vast technical and expertise towards the full development of our solid minerals sector. 
4.217.  Finally, as an important Member of the WTO,  Australia has remained a supporter of the 
multilateral trading system. In this context, we wish to acknowledge the constructive and 
proactive engagement of the delegation of Au stralia in the DDA negotiations. We wish the 
delegation of Australia a very successful Trade Policy Review. 
REPUBLIC
 OF KOREA 
4.218.  I am pleased to note that Korea and Australia have maintained a mutually beneficial trade 
relationship over the years based on the comple mentary nature of both economies. Korea is 
Australia's 4th largest trading partner and 3rd largest export market, while Australia stands as 
Korea's 8th largest partner, with bilateral trade that reached US$30.7 billion in 2014. With respect 
to FDI, Australia was the 20th largest investor in Korea with US$2.3 billion, and Korea's outbound WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  investment to Australia amounted to US$16.9 bi llion. Importantly, these figures demonstrate a 
very close partnership that will continue to grow and develop in the future. 
4.219.  Turning to Australia's overall economic performance, Korea would like to commend the 
Australian Government for successfully engineering its macroeconomic policy over the past 
23 years of continuous economic growth. Even though its economy faces some challenges in 
rebalancing its growth towards the non-resource sector and the growth rate slightly declined to below its trend rate of 3% after 2011, we believe that its wide ranging structural reforms coupled 
with its progressive trade liberalization policies have been and will continue to be the major source 
of its economic strength and success. 
4.220.  In particular, Korea appreciates Australia for maintaining a high degree of openness in its 
trade policies in terms of a low rate of average MF N tariffs and transparency with a strong record 
of notifications to the WTO. As a firm believer in  the multilateral trading system represented by the 
WTO, Australia has been actively participating in the DDA negotiations and plurilateral negotiations such as the TISA, expansion of the ITA and the EGA. 
4.221.  On the bilateral front, Australia has been actively pursuing new RTAs. It is our hope that 
the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in December 2014 will help deepen the economic cooperation between the two count ries. We also hope that it will play a role 
in helping advance trade liberalization as it aims to achieve a comprehensive and high-quality 
trade deal while fully respecting WTO standards. 
4.222.  Korea appreciates Australia's legislative, institutional and procedural reforms on 
anti-dumping and countervailing measures under the Streamlining the Anti-Dumping Policy during 
the review period. However, despite this progress,  Korea would like to provide a brief comment on 
its trade remedies where we find there is room for improvement. We note that Australia was one of the world's major users of anti-dumping measures, the 4
th largest in 2013. Between 2010 and 
2013, Australia initiated 57 anti-dumping investigations, which led to the imposition of 
30 definitive measures. Taking into account the adverse effects of these measures on trade, it would be advisable that more prudent approaches be taken in initiating anti-dumping 
investigations. 
4.223.  Finally, we very much hope that Australia, as a key player in the WTO, will continue to play 
an important role in helping not only strengthen the WTO multilateral trading system as a whole, but also advances the DDA negotiations. Korea has and will continue to work closely with Australia 
in the areas of the DDA and plurilateral negotiations. With this, I would like to conclude by 
expressing my sincere appreciation to the Aust ralian delegation for its hard work and wish 
Australia every success in its TPR. 
URUGUAY 
4.224.  Our country first of all wishes to congratulate Australia for being one of the most open 
economies in the world and for the fact that it has performed well since the beginning of the global 
financial crisis and the previous review of its trade policy relative to other advanced economies, 
as a result of its appropriate macroeconomic policies. 
4.225.  Uruguay has friendly and constructive political and economic relations with Australia, 
which also include creating opportunities for technological, social and cultural cooperation. 
One specific example is the training provided in  Uruguay by Australian universities to develop 
"sustainable mining" and the presence in the Uruguayan market of an Australian company that has been involved in an oil project since 2012. Re lations between our two Permanent Missions in 
Geneva are excellent, and we have been working together on various topics such as agriculture, 
services and tobacco. 
4.226.  As regards trade relations, Uruguay's exports in 2014, which consisted mainly of food 
preparations, had increased by 37% compared to  2012. The trend in imports during the review 
period was unsteady, and the leading products were iron and steel, followed by seeds for sowing, leather and rubber. Trade between the two countries nonetheless remains weak. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.227.  We believe that there is considerable potential for expanding our relations and that this 
calls for greater mutual understanding. Work can be done to develop complementarity in similar areas since Uruguay and Australia share the same interests, production structure and business culture. Our countries can develop sales platforms for goods, services and investment within our 
respective regions, and in fact there already ar e a few concrete examples of such platforms. 
4.228.  It is in our interest to further expand trade and create new opportunities for cooperation in 
technology and innovation, such as best agribusiness practices with a view to harnessing new 
markets, both in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region. 
4.229.  Without prejudice to the questions we submitte d in writing, we would like to add a few 
comments based on our reading of the Secretariat report: 
4.230.  Does the Export Market Development Gran ts (EMDG) scheme provide subsidies for 
agricultural exports, and if so, what are the products involved? 
4.231.  State trading (section 3.3.3) includes " … the Rice Marketing Board for the State 
of New South Wales, which has export monopoly rights … ". What is the purpose of maintaining 
this policy? 
4.232.  Lastly, we would like to reaffirm our two countries' interest in joining forces to reach a 
successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round and to strengthen a multilateral trading 
system based on predictable, transparent and balanced rules. 
4.233.  In this connection, we would emphasize Australia's role as coordinator of the Cairns Group, 
where our countries are working to achieve the ne cessary reforms of world agricultural trade. 
4.234.  Uruguay wishes Australia every success with the seventh review of its trade policy. 
FIJI 
4.235.  Fiji is pleased to be able to participate in Australia's seventh Trade Policy Review today, the 
first being held subsequent to the establishment of Fiji's Mission to the WTO in Geneva. 
Notwithstanding the newness of our Mission in Geneva, we take this opportunity to welcome the 
Australian delegation for its TPR to Geneva and congratulate them for a well prepared report. 
4.236.  Australia is Fiji's biggest trading partner and our economies are more interconnected than 
before. This review therefore provides a useful  opportunity to understand the trade policies and 
measures of an important bilateral trading partner. Fiji, together with other Pacific Island countries, is engaged in negotiations for a regional trade agreement under the ambit of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, known as PACER Plus negotiations, with Australia and 
New Zealand.  
4.237.  As has been noted by many delegations this morning, Australia is a champion of free trade 
and the active encouragement of freer flows of international trade, including through the provision 
of Aid for Trade including to Fiji. However, Fiji is concerned that these free trade policies are 
undermined in many instances by its SPS and non-tariff barrier regime.   
4.238.  We would therefore like to focus Fiji's question s on such issues affecting trade with Fiji 
identified in section 3.2.5 of the Secretariat's report relating to import prohibitions, restrictions and 
import licensing.  
4.239.  First, on Kava. 
4.240.  We note that Table 3 page 49 contains a list of specific restricted goods which includes 
Kava. The measure was imposed by Australia in 2007 to restrict commercial importation of kava, 
while allowing travellers to bring in 2 kg for personal use. The stated reason was to protect the health of the indigenous communities of Australia. Fiji had at the time expressed its concern that 
this measure was a disguised restriction on international trade, and that the measure was not 
necessary to achieve the statement aim. A less-trad e restrictive measure, such as the restrictions 
on the sale of alcohol also applied in these communities, could target the same concern. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.241.  In this regard, Fiji requests Australia to explain in detail the continued justification for 
imposing this trade restrictive measure on an item without sufficient scientific proof being presented to link the necessity of the measure to the stated objective? Could Australia also please 
refer this delegation to the relevant notifications made to the WTO in regard of this measure? 
4.242.  Second, Fresh Ginger. 
4.243.  The quarantine pathway for fresh ginger has been under negotiations for nine years and 
Fiji was pleased that exports to Australia of Fiji 's fresh ginger were granted in 2013, albeit with 
specific biosecurity conditions that continue to frustrate ginger exports from Fiji. This does not 
inspire confidence in our exporters due to the absence of long term market access predictability. 
4.244.  As per notification (G/SPS/N/AUS/351) Austra lia is conducting a review of the import 
conditions for fresh ginger imports from Fiji.  
4.245.  Could Australia indicate whether there are provisions in the annual review to allow for 
import restrictions to be ceased, so that Fijian exporters and their counterpart Australian importers will have greater confidence and predictability to trade. Under what conditions will an annual 
review no longer be required? 
4.246.  Third, and finally, Giant African Snails (3.2.2.2.2). 
4.247.  The report states that during the review period, Australia pursued reforms towards 
developing a modern and responsive system that facilitates trade while managing biosecurity risks 
offshore, at the border and onshore in line with the recommendations of a 2008 independent review. 
4.248.  As Australia would know, Fijian sea freight shipments to Australia are currently undergoing 
physical inspections for Giant African Snail infestation despite Fiji not being a Giant African Snail 
host country. This situation dates back to a single case where a shipment originating in another country (Samoa), which is a GAS host, was transhipped through Fiji and found in Australia to be 
infested.  
4.249.  The current regime applicable to Fijian sea freight is unduly trade restrictive and in many 
instances perishable items are no longer marketable as a result of the delays in clearance.  
4.250.  Would Australia explain the necessity of the measure given that it would be possible for 
Australia to identify from cargo documents those shipments that have a source which is a GAS host, and undertaken selective inspection on those transhipped shipments, rather than shipments which originate in Fiji, where there are no Giant African Snails. 
EL
 SALVADOR 
4.251.  We note from the Secretariat report that Australia is one of the most open economies in 
the world and that it has performed well relative to many other economies, due to its appropriate 
macroeconomic policy mix. 
4.252.  We also note that policy shifts have occurred in trade-related areas, a key focus of the new 
Government being to drive forward reforms to cu t costs, provide more efficient and effective 
government services and create a less burdensome regulatory environment for businesses and 
citizens. According to the report by Australia, the Government has committed to a new era of tax reform aimed at lifting productivity and making the most of the underlying potential of the economy. It has initiated a small business policy agenda and embarked on a dedicated 
deregulation agenda aimed at improving Australia's productivity. 
4.253.  As highlighted in the Secretariat report, another point worth mentioning is the fact that 
Australia's trade policy continues to be based on the premise that trade openness, economic 
growth and improved living standards are strongly  linked, and emphasis is placed on raising 
international competitiveness and market access overseas. The report adds that Australia pursues a combined multilateral, regional, bilateral and unilateral approach to trade policy, not to mention 
access to overseas markets and the transparency of its trade regime. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  4.254.  At the bilateral level, Australia ranked 31st among our export destinations and came 38th as 
a source of Salvadoran imports in 2013, a year when trade between the two countries reached US$32.4 million, according to the figures provided by El Salvador's Central Reserve Bank. Trade between El Salvador and Australia is relatively complementary, since our country's leading 
export products were coffee, beer, tailors' dummies, handicrafts and made-up textile articles, 
and its main imports included dairy products, iron and steel, articles of aluminium, and kraft paper 
and paperboard. 
4.255.  We also wish to underscore Australia's commendable commitment to Aid-for-Trade, which, 
as shown in the country's report, is organized and provided through multilateral, regional and bilateral channels. This is an important initiative for countries such as El Salvador, in that it allows increased access to funding. 
4.256.  Lastly, we would like to congratulate Ambassa dor Hamish McCormick and his team for their 
commitment to the regular and special work of the WTO. 
HONDURAS 
4.257.  We note that Australia remains one of the most open economies in the world, as reflected 
by the volume of its trade in goods and services and its relatively low rates of inflation and unemployment. We also highlight Australia's mo ve to drive forward reforms to cut costs, 
provide more efficient government services and establish a favourable regulatory environment for 
businesses and users. 
4.258.  Of further note are the sectoral policy developments which have largely focused on 
ensuring a sustainable, productive and resilient agricultural base. Agricultural production and trade 
remain of fundamental importance to Australia, a competitive net agricultural exporter which 
exports some 60% of its total agricultural output. 
4.259.  Australia's services sector is still the mainst ay of the country's economy. Tourism services, 
which are trending upwards, remain Australia's major services export. 
4.260.  Mining investment has increased in response to the rise of terms of trade, 
while manufacturing policy has been chiefly focused on increasing the multifactor productivity, 
sustainability and growth of manufacturing indu stry in order to create new high-skilled jobs. 
At the same time, this trading partner is reviewing its future energy needs and considering a new coherent and integrated approach to energy policy, which has led to the adoption of proposals pertaining, among other things, to clea n energy, energy efficiency and energy rating 
label requirements. 
4.261.  We note the amendment of customs valuation legislation to ensure consistency with 
the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation, the strengthening of IPR protection through the 
enactment of new legislation in a number of areas and the expansion of Australia's international 
commitments; we also emphasize the overhaul of rules in order to raise the quality of granted 
patents, ensure free access to patented inventions for regulatory approvals and research, 
reduce delays in the resolution of patent and trademark applications, improve mechanisms for 
trademark and copyright enforcement, and simplify the IP system. 
4.262.  Turning to competition policy, we highlight the efforts made to strengthen consumer credit 
protection and enforcement at the national leve l, publication of the revised Informal Merger 
Review Process Guidelines, the focus on competition and consumer issues arising in highly 
concentrated sectors and, among other things, the examination of pharmaceutical patents. 
4.263.  As regards bilateral trade, in 2014 our imports were worth around US$8 billion and 
our exports - chiefly coffee, cocoa, fresh fish and oils and fats - amounted to more 
than US$3.5 million. 
4.264.  We draw attention to Australia's relations with Central America as an extra-regional 
observer in the Central American Integration System (SICA), with a view to building development 
cooperation with the countries of the region. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  MONTENEGRO 
4.265.  As an open economy and the country that has recently acceded to the WTO, Montenegro 
welcomes Australia's strong commitment to the World Trade Organization and its framework of rules. In addition, Montenegro recognizes Aust ralia's exemplary commitment to providing long 
term trade assistance for the small and vulnerable economies and for the least developed 
countries. 
4.266.  We note from the Secretariat report that Australian authorities plan to embark on a 
comprehensive round of structural reforms aimed at strengthening competition in labour and 
product markets. We welcome the adoption of such measures. Montenegro also applauds Australia's Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda, as outlined in the Secretariat's report, which consists of six initiatives aimed at boosting Australian competitiveness over the next 
18 months.  
4.267.  My delegation follows with interest Australia's efforts in building small business capability 
by increasing the quality and effectiveness of its Government engagement with this sector. As a 
tourist destination, Montenegro will continue to analyse Australia's model for strengthening 
bilateral tourism as part of its Government economic diplomacy agenda and priorities under Tourism 2020. Finally, my delegation appreciates visible contribution of Australia in the current 
negotiations of the remaining DDA issues an d in implementation of Post-Bali agenda.  
4.268.  Montenegro is looking forward to continuing constructive engagement with the delegation 
of Australia in Geneva on the matters of mutual interest. We wish Australia every success in its seventh Trade Policy Review. 
KINGDOM
 OF BAHRAIN 
4.269.  Bahrain shares a strong economic relationship with Australia with a significant focus on 
aluminium. Australia being a major partner in Bahrain's aluminium industry, with as much as 75% 
of Bahrain's imported aluminium oxide supplied by Australia, and a main destination for smelted 
aluminium. Our bilateral trade relation will also likely see increased growth with the recent resumption of imports of Australian livestock, estimated to be as much as 400,00 heads per year. 
4.270.  We applaud Australia for having one of the world's most open and transparent trade 
regimes, with as much as 96% of its tariff rates between zero to 5% and commend them for being a valuable and active Member of the WTO; and its longstanding commitment to the multilateral trading system. 
4.271.  In conclusion, we look forward to continued cooperation with Australia to deepen our 
relationship both bilaterally and within the WTO. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 
5.1.  Mr Chairman, in this second session of Australia's seventh Trade Policy Review, let me start 
by again thanking the WTO Secretariat for their comprehensive report on Australia's trade and economic policies and expressing our sincere appreciation to the Discussant, the Permanent 
Representative of Hong Kong, China, for her insightful and thoughtful analysis.  
5.2.  Let me also convey our thanks to the WTO Members who posed written questions and made 
statements on the first day of our TPR.  
5.3.  Perhaps if the Secretariat and Ms Young had not undertaken their tasks with such skill and 
dedication, and Members had not focused so seriously on the task, I and my delegation may have been free to enjoy more of the beautiful Geneva sunshine over the past two days. 
5.4.  But tempting as this thought may be, we have greatly appreciated the opportunity to discuss 
in detail Australia's trade and economic policies, the positive elements, of which Members 
acknowledged there are many, the areas where more reform may be worthwhile and the challenges ahead. 
5.5.  This has underscored again the value of this process as a broad and comprehensive 
transparency exercise.  
5.6.  And, as a result of our efforts, I am pleased to report that we provided written answers to all 
Members' questions, totalling some 600, incl uding all of those submitted after the 24 March 
deadline. 
5.7.  Of particular note to me personally, having spent many years living in the Pacific, is that we 
have responded to questions posed by Fiji, which has participated for the first time in our TPR, 
following the establishment of Fiji's Mission to the WTO since our last review in 2011. 
5.8.  Several recurrent themes were evident in the questions from Members and in the prepared 
statements delivered during the first review session. I cannot promise to respond to everything 
mentioned by Members, but I will now seek to respond directly to many of the issues raised. And 
where I do not answer Members' queries, we undertake to respond directly. 
5.9.  Many Members welcomed Australia's decision last year to consider accession to the WTO 
Government Procurement Agreement, a decision included in Australia's G-20 Growth Strategy. 
This also sparked interest in our existing framework around government procurement, both at the Federal and State level. Canada and the European  Union, in particular, questioned Australia's 
government procurement methodologies, including the divergent policies within the federation. 
5.10.  Let me reassure Members that Australia's government procurement framework is based on 
the principles of value for money, non-discrimination and is open to competition from foreign suppliers.  
5.11.  Foreign suppliers are very active in the Australian GP market, particularly in major 
construction projects. 
5.12.  We can give a strong assurance that at the Commonwealth level, our government 
procurement regime is non-discriminatory, including in relation to procurement-related policies. 
5.13.  Federal, State and Territory Governments do have exclusions in their government 
procurement policies to support social objectives in education, health and welfare, including for our indigenous people and for small and medium-sized enterprises given their contribution to 
Australia's economic prosperity. 
5.14.  State and Territory Governments have given assurances that those measures are not 
discriminatory and are maintained only to ensure that Australian firms have equal opportunities to 
access Government contracts. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  5.15.  We do recognize that the Secretariat report raises a number of issues around procurement 
related policies at State and Territory level which would need to be considered further in an accession negotiation, should Australia decide to accede to the GPA. 
5.16.  We undertake to keep Members inform ed of developments in this area. 
5.17.  We know that many Members have questions about Australia's strict biosecurity regime. We 
understand the interest, at both a general level and for specific products, a number of which were raised on Tuesday. 
5.18.  We do not seek to downplay the critical importance of Australia's scientifically-based 
biosecurity measures and we make no apology for those measures. 
5.19.  They are demonstrably designed to protected Australia's unique flora and fauna and guard 
against potentially devastating economic damage to Australia's agriculture sector should an exotic 
disease or pest be introduced, for example, controlling the imported red fire ant has already 
collectively cost Australian Governments US$411 million between 2001 and 2012. The benefit of eradication is estimated to be in ex cess of US$5.3 billion over 20 years. 
5.20.  Australia is reforming its biosecurity regime with the introduction of the Biosecurity Bill in 
2014. The Government consulted widely in developing the Bill, including with other nations' international industry bodies. The proposed legisl ation will enshrine a risk management framework 
for assessing goods entering Australia and it is consistent with our WTO rights and obligations. 
5.21.  Reference was made by the United States and Switzerland to Australia's non-alignment with 
the World Organization for Animal Health's standards for BSE consistent with the SPS Agreement, Australia reserves the right to conduct its own assessment of any other Member's animal health 
systems and status in relation to diseases of biosecurity concern. Australia takes into account the 
World Organisation for Animal Health classification of a country's BSE status, and also conducts its own evaluation because of the severe consequences that could result from a BSE outbreak in 
Australia. 
5.22.  Australia's use of trade remedies, including anti-dumping and countervailing duties, was 
also raised by Members. 
5.23.  Australia's anti-dumping system is undergoing considerable reforms to improve 
administration, due process and transparency. Aust ralia's trade remedies underpin its open market 
and enable ongoing liberalization to allow increased market access. They provide a more level playing field for domestic producers in the face of  injuriously dumped and subsidised imports. The 
capacity to respond to anti-competitive pricing practices by overseas suppliers is an important 
element in the Government's capacity to maintain community support for Australia's open trade policies. Australia's ongoing reforms to its anti-dumping system have allowed the Government to 
look at its policy settings in light of evolving trade flows, including issues such as the emerging 
significance of regional and global value chains, a point raised by one Member at the first meeting. 
5.24.  And I would note that we have not resorted to blunt instruments such as global safeguards. 
Australia's tariff schedule was rightly acknowledged by many as among the most liberal in the 
world. However, Mexico, Indonesia and Hong Kong, China, remarked that tariffs on non-agricultural products, and TCF and automobiles in particular, were relatively high or escalating. I would like to take this opportunity to update Members on Australia's progressive tariff 
liberalization on these product lines. Since 1 January 2015, Australia's highest tariff on textiles, 
clothing and footwear products has been 5%. This follows a phased reduction process over a number of years. Tariffs on Australian made cars have been reduced steadily since the late 1980s 
to sit at just 5% since 2010, and lower for some countries under bilateral or regional trade 
agreements. 
5.25.  Australia does not believe even its highest tariff of 5% acts as a barrier to imported 
products.  
5.26.  Australia's approach to regional trade negotiations was highlighted by the Discussant and 
some Members. Ms Young asked whether Australia looked at the impact of our preferential WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  agreements on regional economic integration. This is an excellent question and touches on one of 
the cornerstones of Australia's approach to RTAs. Australia seeks to ensure its FTAs and RTAs contribute as much as possible to the ongoing inte gration of the economies of the parties. In our 
bilateral agreement with New Zealand, we have achieved deep integration across the economy, 
among the deepest of all the FTAs notified to th e WTO and we continue to explore opportunities 
for further integration. In the Australia-New Zealand ASEAN FTA, the parties established a vibrant mechanism for dialogue and review. This includes  regular exchanges among policy makers from a 
wide range of economic sectors aimed at ensuring that the FTA is operating in a way that 
promotes deep integration of our economies. 
5.27.  Our desire for genuine economic integration is behind Australia's insistence on high levels of 
tariff elimination in all our FTAs. A point was raised on this issue by one Member. Australia remains 
committed to genuinely liberalizing FTAs, and that commitment will be clear from any examination 
of the outcomes we have achieved, which are inva riably among the most liberalizing, our partners 
have entered into especially in the often sensitive area of agriculture. 
5.28.  Trade facilitation is an important part of Australia's competitiveness agenda. It is a 
complement to Australia's trade liberalization efforts. Australia has recently introduced an authorised economic operator scheme to facilitate procedures for regular importers and exporters 
and we are, of course, moving towards ratifica tion of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. 
5.29.  We also appreciated the recognition from the discussant and several Members of Australia's 
strong record on WTO notifications. Australia considers the notification process to be fundamental to transparency within the WTO. We will continue to strive to provide full and timely notifications 
of any trade related measures. And indeed, only last week, we provided updated notifications to 
the Committee on Agriculture. In relation to Australia's tax regime, a number of Members mentioned specific tax measures, including the luxury car tax. This measure is fully compliant with 
WTO rules, it does not discriminate against imports as it is applied equally to all cars meeting the 
criteria whether manufactured in or imported to Australia. 
5.30.  Foreign investment regulation was another theme touched-on by Members including the EU, 
China, Norway, Indonesia, Colombia and Hong Kong, China. As I highlighted in my opening 
address, Australia welcomes foreign investment and works to create an environment which will attract investment which is in the national interest. Out of thousands of business proposals, Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board has only rejected three since 2001. 
5.31.  The Russian Federation and Indonesia expressed concern that the activities of Australia's 
official export credit agency, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, may contravene our WTO obligations by supporting 0.1% of Australian  agricultural exports. Australia does not agree 
with the premise of those concerns. We support the elimination of all export subsidies, and 
disciplines on all measures with equivalent effect, including export financial support in agricultural trade as part of a broader outcome for the Export Competition pillar. 
5.32.  The NSW Rice Marketing Board received attention from Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Columbia 
and Uruguay. On state trading enterprises generally, Australia has progressively reduced the number of STEs with export monopoly powers from seven in 2004 to one in 2015. In response to Members' specific concerns, be assured there are no tariffs or quantitative restrictions on rice 
imports into Australia.  
5.33.  Canada sought clarification on Australia's country of origin labelling framework. Australia's 
country of origin labelling framework prohibits false, misleading or deceptive origin 
representations; provides that country of origin  representations are not false, misleading or 
deceptive where certain criteria are met, that is provides safe harbours; and requires most food to be labelled with its country of origin.  
5.34.  The Government is consulting widely in considering changes to the Country of Origin 
Labelling framework and any changes will improve transparency and be consistent with Australia's international trade obligations. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  5.35.  On a positive note, Australia welcomed feedback from Chile, the United States, Argentina 
and New Zealand on Australia's efforts to curb fisheries subsidies. Australia continues to attach the highest importance to reducing incentives that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity.  
5.36.  In the Post-Bali environment, Australia is genuinely looking at fresh and creative approaches 
to fisheries subsidies that would set out general principles within the context of the Subsidies 
Agreement.  
5.37.  Brazil raised education services, and I must admit that when they talked about people-to-
people links I thought they were going to refer to the many Australians who travelled to Brazil for 
the World Cup, a not altogether successful expe rience for us but enjoyable nonetheless. Trade 
services, including education services, is an increasingly important part of Australia's trade profile and offers the potential for growth to offset the challenge presented by the tapering of growth in 
the resources sector. Services have for some time been the mainstay of Australia's economy, now 
contributing over 70% of output and accounting for more than three quarters of total employment.  
5.38.  Lastly, I should like to say a few words in Spanish. This year, we received an unprecedented 
number of questions in Spanish which tested bo th my and my colleagues' translation skills. 
On the other hand, I believe that this shows in creased interaction between the Latin American 
region and Australia in terms of trade and investment as well as people-to-people ties. 
5.39.  I should also like to mention the dispute on tobacco plain packaging and take this 
opportunity to thank Uruguay and Norway for supporting Australia as respondent in this case. 
5.40.  To conclude, at the beginning of this Trad e Policy Review I acknowledged the challenges 
facing the Australian economy. Looking ahead, navi gating the transition to broader-based growth 
is not the only challenge we face. Pressures are expected to continue into the medium-term as 
population ageing weighs on workforce participation, and declining global commodity prices lead to further falls in our terms of trade. To sustain impr ovements in living standards similar to those we 
have enjoyed over the last two decades, improv ements in productivity growth will need to 
increase. 
5.41.  And, let me assure Members that the Australian Government is focused on these challenges. 
As I discussed in my opening statement, we have in place a comprehensive Economic Action 
Strategy, we are actively reviewing our competition and tax policies and a recently released Intergenerational Report focused squarely on issues surrounding our aging population. 
5.42.  We are very aware, as a nation, that we cannot simply assume that the next 23 years will 
be as successful as the last. But we are definitely up to the challenge. 
5.43.  And finally, can I take this opportunity to commend you all for the work you do in the WTO 
on a daily basis. While the TPRs may well be the highlight, we in Australia very much want to see 
you doing all you can to finish the Doha negotiations. I wish you all the best in the lead up to 
MC10. 
DISCUSSANT 
Members' interests and comments 
5.44.  In TPRs, Members tend to be quite honest, and credits are paid only where they are due, so 
when we hear so many Members praising Austra lia for its very open economy and trade policy 
regime; for the staunch support it gives to the mult ilateral trading system; for the very active and 
constructive role it plays, and Ambassador McCormick personally plays, in the WTO and various 
trade negotiations; for Australia's strong leadership in the international trade arena; and for the generous assistance it provides to developing and least-developed economies, we know that all 
these must be true testimonies to a really outstanding performance.  
5.45.  But with these also come higher expectations that one can do even better and move even 
further ahead at the forefront of trade liberalizati on. Therefore, in the case of investment, some 
Members would expect investor-friendly policies and light-handed regulation to be the general rule 
applicable to all WTO Members rather than  an exception reserved for FTA partners. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  5.46.  There were many questions about government procurement, and more will continue to be 
asked I expect, pending a decision on whether Au stralia will indeed seek accession to the WTO 
GPA. Members have mentioned in particular local preference policies at Commonwealth, States and Territories levels. While these measures may be consistent with Australia's existing 
international trade obligations, Members would expect more progressive policy changes as 
Australia works towards an early accession to GPA. 
5.47.  Just as government procurement is more than a domestic affair, anti-dumping actions have 
implications not only for the industries at home, but also for international trading partners and the 
multilateral trading system. Some Members were concerned about Australia being a frequent user 
of AD measures. They may expect Australia to consider more sustainable and pro-trade alternatives, such as offering non-preferential, barrier-free access to a wide range of suppliers all 
over the world, so that competition among them  will prevent predatory behaviour and safeguard 
consumer interests. 
5.48.  SPS is another area which continues to draw attention. Many Members have commented on 
Australia's strict biosecurity regime and food standards which are often higher than widely 
accepted international ones. In its replies, Australia has explained in detail its primary considerations which, in relation to biosecurity, are to protect Australia's flora, fauna and 
agriculture against diseases; and in relation to food standards, the primary consideration is to 
protect the health and safety of Australian consumers, taking into account the national diet and consumption levels. It is also useful to know that the Biosecurity Bill 2014 includes a definition of Appropriate Level of Protection which will provid e additional certainty to importers and trading 
partners. Members will be in a better position to assess the trade implications of the Bill when it is 
enacted and further details are notified to the WTO. 
5.49.  Members who are interested in Australia's deregulation efforts will also be pleased with the 
updates, which confirm that red tape savings in the past two years have reached $A 2.45 billion, 
and that more initiatives are to come. Meanwhile, Members should also be glad to note that the Regulator Performance Framework, which allows for a comprehensive assessment of regulator 
performance and their engagement with stakeholders, will apply from July this year. 
5.50.  Australia has also provided detailed explanation of its improved intellectual property regime, 
the changes to its country of origin labelling fr amework and its plans to address the question of 
costal shipping, etc., all of which is very useful information. 
Final remarks 
5.51.  TPR is of value only if Members believe that a constructive and critical dialogue can help us 
understand each other's policies better. My observations have many limitations, and are useful 
only to the extent that personal remarks are useful, but I hope they have helped stimulate 
Members' discussion, which is far more important. 
5.52.  I can see that Members have shown great interest in this TPR and offered very insightful 
comments. Australia has also taken the exercise seriously. Not only has it chosen the more 
interactive alternative timeline, but it has also provided written replies to all the written questions (totalling more than 600) before today, which has greatly facilitated our discussion. The responding statement by Ms Holmes just now was also very comprehensive and enlightening. I am 
sure it is very much appreciated by Members. 
5.53.  Given the high level of engagement on both sides, I am confident that, just as Australia's 
valuable experience has been generously shared, its excellent performance will be an inspiration 
for many. 
EUROPEAN
 UNION 
5.54.  In the name of the European Union, I would like to thank Australia for the comprehensive 
answers that it has provided to all the questions it has received and, indeed, to confirm that the 
European Union also thinks that Australia has a very open trade policy regime and it is an inspiration to all. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  5.55.  The European Union has submitted many questions to which obviously we have seen the 
answers. The EU is one of those Members in the WTO who, I can confirm, has higher expectations 
as well. We have increasing interest in finding more about Australia's trade policy and how it functions. In that context, we have submitted additional questions to understand better the 
functioning of an already very highly and ve ry performing Australian trade policy regime. 
5.56.  We have submitted questions related to import risk analyses linked to Australia sanitary and 
phytosanitary regime, notably related to the average time needed to complete the import risk 
analyses.  
5.57.  Government procurement is something that interests a lot the European Union when it 
comes to Australia's trade policy regime and notably the functioning of government procurement with regard to SMEs, the possibilities for SMEs from foreign countries to participate in Australia's 
government procurement at State level. 
5.58.  We have submitted additional questions an d remarks regarding industrial design and 
whether Australia would be ready to join the "Hague agreement concerning the international 
registration of industrial designs". 
5.59.  And we also submitted questions related to Australia's intellectual property regime and try 
to understand better how this system works, notably in relation to the protection of IP right 
holders and the fight against counterfeited goods. 
5.60.  We look forward to receive more details to these questions. Once again, I would like to 
thank Australia for the tremendous effort that it has produced to provide complete and comprehensive replies to the questions. 
UNITED
 STATES 
5.61.  The United States also wishes to express its gratitude to Australia for its efforts and 
preparation for this TPR. The United States attach es great importance in the TPR process and this 
one has also been very useful and insightful for us. We wish to thank Australia for its 
responsiveness and helpful answers to our advance written questions. 
5.62.  We have submitted three follow-up questions to Australia. Two are copyright related and 
they actually were in our advance written questions. We thought it might be useful to provide 
some clarification to those questions, to provide more clarity on those issues. The third question has to do with SPS and the possibility of a uni fied cost-benefit framework for proposed SPS 
measures. We look forward to receiving Australia's responses in due course. 
5.63.  Once again, thank you for all the efforts and preparation for this week and I wish everyone 
and the delegation from capital a safe journey home. WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 
6.1.  This seventh Trade Policy Review of Australia has enabled us to improve our understanding of 
recent developments in its trade and trade-related policies, and the challenges it now faces. Our discussion has clearly benefited from the active participation of the Australian delegation, led by 
Ms Patricia Holmes, Acting First Assistant Secretar y, Office of Trade Negotiations (Department of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade), as well as from the remarks of our discussant, Ms Irene Young, Permanent Representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China to the WTO, 
and many interventions by Members. Australia' s prompt response to all of the more than 
600 advanced written questions has been greatly appreciated by Members.  
6.2.  Members praised Australia's inter-related trade openness, growth, and living standards as 
well as its sound macroeconomic principles and policies that contributed to its dynamism, 
economic resilience and performance; over th e past 23 years, Australia has experienced 
uninterrupted real GDP growth. Members congratulated Australia for trade-related reforms undertaken in a number of areas during the review  period. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that 
Australia was still facing challenges relating to the effects of the terms of trade, the relatively 
appreciated Australian dollar, its ageing population and the continuing over-reliance on the mining sector. Australia was encouraged to conduct the appropriate economic policies to facilitate 
market-driven adjustment and economic diversification including via its 2014 Industry Innovation 
and Competitiveness Agenda. Furthermore, certain Members noted that Australia continued to encourage foreign investment consistent with its national interests and certain foreign investment 
restrictions were maintained in sensitive sectors; they urged Australia to assess the impact of 
measures that impose an additional re gulatory burden on foreign investors. 
6.3.  Members praised Australia's commitment to the development and reinforcement of the 
rules-based multilateral trading system as well as for its co-ordinating and guiding role in several 
trade and investment liberalization activities within and outside the WTO (e.g. Information 
Technology Agreement, Environmental Goods Agreem ent, Trade in Services Agreement). They also 
noted Australia's increased involvement in RTAs prioritizing, inter alia , markets in Asia and the 
Pacific; in this respect, a few Members encourag ed the conclusion of FTAs with comprehensive 
market access outcomes that would further comple ment and strengthen the multilateral trading 
system. Several Members praised Australia's transparent trade regime and strong WTO notifications record. 
6.4.  Several Members commended Australia's tariff binding coverage, and its latest unilateral 
lowering of tariffs on apparel and certain finished textile articles and footwear; however, they encouraged further improvements to its tariff structure. Certain Members expressed appreciation 
for Australia's minimal documentation requirements, and computerized customs clearance, as well 
as for its intention to ratify the WTO Trade Fa cilitation Agreement by mid-2015 and for providing 
technical assistance to developing and least developed countries in this and other Aid for Trade 
areas. While noting that Australia was the WTO's 4
th largest user of anti-dumping measures, 
several Members appreciated changes made to the anti-dumping framework and encouraged 
further improvements in this area, e.g., in procedural transparency and delays.  
6.5.  Some Members welcomed Australia's reforms to develop a biosecurity system that facilitates 
trade while managing risks from imported products. Concern was expressed over the delayed 
alignment of its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) import conditions with internationally recognized standards. Consequently, Australia was, inter alia,  urged to further align its SPS 
measures with international standards, guidelines and recommendations (Codex Alimentarius, 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE)); provide further clarity and transparency to its import risk analysis process; undertake a cost-benefit analys is; and, simplify its biosecurity legislation. 
Members welcomed Australia's intention to accede to the Revised WTO Government Procurement 
Agreement, and inquired about the steps forward while offering their close cooperation in this respect. At the same time, Australia was encour aged to continue its efforts to open up its 
government procurement market, inter alia , by improving its regime particularly at sub-federal 
level. Some Members expressed interest in learning more about Australia's intellectual property 
rights regime. A few Members urged Australia to rethink taxes such as the luxury car tax with due consideration to their potential negative impact on trade.  
6.6.  Several Members recognized services as the ma in pillar of the economy, and the progress 
made in this area; Australia was, inter alia , encouraged to liberalize the maritime cabotage WT/TPR/M/312 • Australia 
 
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  system, and allow foreign vessels registration in the Australian General Register or in the 
International Shipping Register. 
6.7.  Following the precise and detailed responses of Australia to Members' concerns during the 
meeting, this successfully concludes our seventh Re view of Australia. The large number of advance 
questions and the many interventions indicate th e important role Australia plays in the WTO. I 
would once again like to thank the Australian delegation, the discussant and Members for contributing to what has been a very enlightening two days of discussions. 
 
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