1. AFTINET submission on Australia-US Free Trade Agreement
2. DFAT GATS Discussion Paper: Comments by 24 February 2003
3. Senate GATS and FTA Inquiry submissions due 21 March 2003

1. AFTINET submission on Australia-US Free Trade Agreement

Click here to view the AFTINET submission, based on the points previously circulated. We should be able to use some of this material for the Senate Inquiry, which covers both GATS and the US FTA.

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2. DFAT GATS Discussion Paper: Comments by 24 February 2003

DFAT has released a discussion paper which summarises Australia's current commitments under GATS and summarises the requests it received from 22 other governments six months ago. The government has only responded at this late date because of community campaigning and the Senate Inquiry (see below), and the paper contains only sketchy information.

However it does confirm that there are requests to increase Australia's GATS commitments on health, education, postal and audio visual services and to include water services in the definition of environmental services. It does not include the request which we know was received from the EU to Australia to list water services. All of these could have enormous impacts on access to essential services and on Australian content rules in film and television.

It is important that as many community organisations and individuals respond as possible. The Media Release, with a link to the discussion paper and where to send submissions, is below.

Please note that submissions are due by Monday 24 February, one month before the submissions on GATS and the US FTA are due (21 March!). Fortunately we should be able to use some of the material from the first two for the Senate Inquiry.

AFTINET will circulate a draft for comment in February.

MEDIA RELEASE

The Acting Minister for Trade, John Anderson, today released a discussion paper for public comment on the preparation of Australia's initial offer under the World Trade Organisation General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations.

"Today's release of this discussion paper on the GATS continues the process by the Australian Government of consulting widely with the Australian community about GATS issues," Mr Anderson said. "The Government welcomes any comments interested parties have on the principles for formulating Australia's initial offer in the GATS negotiations, or any issues about the GATS requests received by Australia."

Australia has received requests from 22 WTO members to date. The requests seek a range of new GATS commitments, or amendments to existing limitations or reservations set out in Australia's schedule of commitments.

"It is important to note Australia's initial GATS offer is not a legally binding commitment and it may be amended or withdrawn at any time." Similarly, Australia is not obliged to respond positively to any request we have received. Australia can choose not to make commitments in a particular sector, or to structure our commitments to limit market access or discriminate between foreign and domestic suppliers."

It was agreed at the WTO Ministerial in Doha in November last year that initial GATS requests were to be lodged on 30 June 2002 with members expected to respond to the initial requests made of them by 31 March 2003.

The discussion paper is available on the DFAT website at www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/services

Hard copies are also available from the DFAT Office of Trade Negotiations.

Comments on the discussion paper are invited by 24 February 2003 to The Director, Services Trade Negotiations, Office of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs &Trade, Barton ACT 0221 or by e-mail to: services.negotiations@dfat.gov.au

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3. Senate GATS and FTA Inquiry submissions due 21 March 2003

As advised before Christmas, the Senate has agreed to hold the Inquiry we have lobbied for on GATS and the USFTA. Fortunately we will be able to use some material from the first two submissions for this one. AFTINET will circulate a draft for comment in March.

The Terms of Reference are:

1. The relevant issues involved in the negotiation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in the Doha development Round of the World Trade Organisation, including but not limited to:

(a) the economic, regional, social, cultural, environmental and policy impact of services trade liberalisation;

(b) Australia’s goals and strategy for the negotiations, including the formulation of and response to requests, the transparency of the process and government accountability;

(c) the GATS negotiations in the context of the ‘development’ objectives of the Doha Round;

(d) the impact of the GATS on the provision of, and access to, public services provided by government, such as health, education and water;

(e) the impact of the GATS on the ability of all levels of government to regulate services and own public assets.

2. The issues for Australia in the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States of America including but not limited to:

(a) the economic, regional, social, cultural, environmental and policy impact of such an agreement;

(b) Australia ’s goals and strategy for negotiations including the formulation of our mandate, the transparency of the process and government accountability;

(c) the impact on the Doha Development Round.

The Committee invites individuals and organisations with knowledge and information relevant to the inquiry's terms of reference to lodge submissions by Friday 21 March 2003 with:

The Secretary
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee
Suite S1.57
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

or email: fadt.sen@aph.gov.au

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