Published Tuesday, 02 September, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
ASEAN trade agreement welcome in Queensland
Closer trading ties between Queensland and ten of Asia’s largest and most important economies will become a reality following a landmark new Trade deal reached by the Australian Government in Singapore last week.
Minister for Trade John Mickel said that the Queensland Government welcomed the prospect of freer trade with the members of the ASEAN group of nations, some of which are our closest overseas neighbours.
“The Queensland Government believes that the new Australia / New Zealand / ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, reached in Singapore last week by Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean will help to open doors and create opportunities for many of Queensland’s established and emerging export industries,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Agreement will cover ninety-five per cent of all two-way trade with ASEAN nations, which is a huge achievement.
“Queensland’s efficient and productive wine, beef, dairy and horticulture industries are already being highlighted as major winners under the new agreement. Our wine producers have been singled out for the high tariffs they have had to pay in the past to access certain ASEAN markets.
“However, I am confident that these industries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improved trade outcomes and relationships with ASEAN nations that will follow the signing of the new Agreement, planned for December,” he said.
“Our State is also likely to benefit greatly from the new ASEAN Free Trade Agreement’s treatment of professional services including education, insurance and other financial services where Queensland has a high level of expertise and experience, and where we have encountered significant trade barriers in the past.
“We applaud the Australian Government for moving so quickly to secure what is a very comprehensive and sound Free Trade Agreement in the wake of the most recent breakdown of wider international efforts to secure freer trade multilaterally under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation through the Doha round,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said that he was eager to explore potential benefits of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement with Government representatives in Singapore when he visits on a trade mission at the end of this week.
The ten ASEAN member states include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Media contact for Minister Mickel: John Smith 3237 1944, Jane Rowe 3237 1125 or
Nathan Moir 3235 4060
2 September 2008
Minister for Trade John Mickel said that the Queensland Government welcomed the prospect of freer trade with the members of the ASEAN group of nations, some of which are our closest overseas neighbours.
“The Queensland Government believes that the new Australia / New Zealand / ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, reached in Singapore last week by Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean will help to open doors and create opportunities for many of Queensland’s established and emerging export industries,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Agreement will cover ninety-five per cent of all two-way trade with ASEAN nations, which is a huge achievement.
“Queensland’s efficient and productive wine, beef, dairy and horticulture industries are already being highlighted as major winners under the new agreement. Our wine producers have been singled out for the high tariffs they have had to pay in the past to access certain ASEAN markets.
“However, I am confident that these industries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improved trade outcomes and relationships with ASEAN nations that will follow the signing of the new Agreement, planned for December,” he said.
“Our State is also likely to benefit greatly from the new ASEAN Free Trade Agreement’s treatment of professional services including education, insurance and other financial services where Queensland has a high level of expertise and experience, and where we have encountered significant trade barriers in the past.
“We applaud the Australian Government for moving so quickly to secure what is a very comprehensive and sound Free Trade Agreement in the wake of the most recent breakdown of wider international efforts to secure freer trade multilaterally under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation through the Doha round,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said that he was eager to explore potential benefits of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement with Government representatives in Singapore when he visits on a trade mission at the end of this week.
The ten ASEAN member states include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Media contact for Minister Mickel: John Smith 3237 1944, Jane Rowe 3237 1125 or
Nathan Moir 3235 4060
2 September 2008