Trade news archive
Australia and the OECD
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the 40th anniversary of Australian membership. The OECD is a leading source of economic and social data and analysis. Its policy recommendations, based on the experiences and research of its members, help to inform major policy decisions taken in both developed and developing countries. Australia is an active member of the OECD.
Find out more about Australia and the OECD in this new brochure.
Services: Vital to exports
New research by ITS Global has found many key Australian merchandise exports incorporate increasing levels of 'embodied services'.
The research also found that sales of services by foreign affiliates of Australian-based companies provide a major contribution to the Australian economy.
Trade Minister Dr Craig Emerson launched the Services International Linkages report at the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Friday 10 December 2010.
Trade Minister Simon Crean and Ambassador-designate Tim Yeend at a recent trade meeting
New Ambassador to WTO appointed
Mr Tim Yeend has been appointed as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.
The appointment was announced by foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Trade Minister Simon Crean on 1 March 2010.
The WTO is the primary vehicle for Australia to advance its trade interests through the conclusion of the multilateral Doha Round. The WTO provides a binding system of rules for international trade and a dispute settlement process that enables members to take legal action when other members act inconsistently with their trading obligations.
Australia-China Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
Trade Minister Simon Crean says the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement negotiations, which have resumed in Canberra from 24-26 February, could provide opportunities in the services sector and for Australian investment, as well as in Agriculture.
Transcript of Mr Crean's remarks
Australia’s Top Ten Exports of Goods and Services in 2009
Coal, iron ore, education, gold and travel services were Australia’s tope exports in 2009, according to preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released on 3 February.
China has overtaken Japan as Australia’s largest export market for merchandise goods. Japan was Australia’s largest market for the past 43 years.
List of Australia’s top 10 exports, and the top ten goods exports markets (PDF)
- Australia increases support for trade in developing countries.
- Strengthening Ties with the EU and Advancing the Doha Round.
- Australia's trade in goods and services - 2008
- Composition of Trade Australia 2008 [ PDF ]
- Investment in new mine and clean coal technologies to create jobs, 11 June
- The Pacific Region: Realising the Potential, 10 June
- Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, will represent Australia at the annual Forum Trade Ministers' Meeting in Apia, Samoa, on 18 and 19 June.
- Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting: Ministers from the Cairns Group are meeting in Bali from 7-9 June to provide a political boost to concluding the world trade talks and discuss strategies for exerting the Group's influence in support of agricultural trade reform.
- Bilateral Meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Dr Mari Pangestu, 7 June
- Australia to chair a crucial meeting of agricultural exporting nations in Bali, 5 June
- Trade and Economic Reform delivers $3900 a year for Australian families, 1 June
- To the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Adelaide, 29 May
- US subsidies a backward step towards protectionism, 23 May
- Australia Seeks Urgent Talks with EU on Beef Access, 21 May
- US Healthcare Technology Company Selects Sydney as its Asia-Pacific Headquarters, 19 May
- Free trade negotiations with South Korea underway, 18 May
- Visit to Australia by South Korea's Trade Minister, 17 May
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio - Budget 2009-10, 12 May
- Enhanced Pacific Engagement, 12 May
- Trade: the 2009-10 Budget, 12 May
- Export Market Development Grants - Extra $50 Million to Guarantee 100 Per Cent Payouts in 2008-09, 12 May
- $14.9 Million for Clean Energy Trade and Investment, 12 May
- Statement: Informal Forum Trade Ministers Meeting, 8-9 May
- Australia Leading the Way at Shanghai World Expo 2010, 8 May
- China: The Place to Be, Shanghai, China, 7 May
- Exports Continue to Hold Up in Turbulent Economic Times, 6 May
- Australian Urban Planning and Design Seminar and Opening of Out from Under Exhibition, Kunming, China, 5 May
- Driving APEC Harder - Opening of the RMIT University APEC Study Centre, 1 May
- Towards a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia
- Showcasing Australia's clean energy credentials
- Congress sending the wrong message
- Launch of PricewaterhouseCoopers Melbourne Institute AsiaLink Index
- Breakthrough in measuring our links with Asia
- Australia-Chile FTA starts in March
- Socceroos to score trade goals in Japan
- US Senate gets it wrong on Buy American
- Global Opportunities program to help industry clusters access export markets
- State Exports rose strongly in 2007-08
- Fifth Consecutive Trade Surplus
- Seminars Help Business to Navigate Beyond the Global Financial Crisis
- Minister for Trade attends World Economic Forum in Davos
- Breakthrough on cherry exports to Japan
- Australian-Based Company Exports Noodles to Korea
- Third highest monthly trade surplus on record
- Diplomatic Appointment - Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Australia-Korea free trade agreement preparatory talks conclude
- Australia Committed to Efforts to Break Impasse in Doha Round
- Minister for Trade welcomes WTO market access deal with Kazakhstan
- Minister for Trade Simon Crean to hold trade policy talks in Washington
- WTO Doha Round Takes Another Important Step
- Treasurer and Minister for Trade Depart for Talks with Chinese Government
- Talks to start on new regional trade agreement
- Leading Exporters Recognised for Outstanding Achievements in International Business
- Australia-Japan trade shows strength in tough times
- Big win for Australian Engineers
- Directions of Australian Trade: Asian regions dominates
- Australia to Consider Participating in Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement
- Australian Appointed as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization
- Australia Concludes Southeast Asia Trade Deal
- Review of Export Policies and Programs: report released
- WTO Doha Round of World Trade Talks
- GM Holden exports Veritas to Korea
- Mortimer Review of Export Policies and Programs
- Failure of Trade Talks a Huge Disappointment
- Minister Crean to attend ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings in Singapore
- Nickel exports shine in 2007
- COAG: Inaugural Meeting of Ministerial Council on International Trade
- Australia and Chile Conclude Free Trade Agreement
- REACH - European Union's new chemical regulations
- Trade Analysis Publications Released
- Cairns Group Urges Ambitions Reforms on Agriculture
- Australia Defends its Quarantine Measures for New Zealand Apples
- New Texts a Good Basis for WTO Trade Ministers Meeting
- Australia Posts April Trade Surplus
- Australia Supports Proposed WTO Ministerial Meeting on 21 July
- Australia Doubles Support for Developing Country Capacity Building at the WTO
- APEC Business Travel Card gains popularity
- Australian exporters honoured at Parliament House
- The growing importance of Australia-India trade
- Australia-China FTA Negotiations Resume in Beijing
- Minister Crean Hosts Informal Meeting of Trade Ministers on the WTO Doha Round
- Minister Crean's Visit to France
- Australia's Top Ten Trading Partners
- April Trade Deficit Narrows
- Minister Crean Announces Australia-United States Ministerial Trade Talks (AUSMINTT)
- Minister Crean Welcomes Strong Doha Statement at APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting
- The rise and rise of Australian education
- Government delivers on commitment to revitalise Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme
- Trade Figures Confirm China and Japan as Top Trade Partners
- Study Reveals Gains to Australia from FTA with Korea
- Trade Ministers Committed to Concluding ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
- Australia and the Multilateral System – Seizing the Opportunities: Address by the Minister for Trade on 28 February
- 25th anniversary of Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA)
- Services exports continued to grow in 2006-07
- Wine labelling laws will be harmonised across Australia cutting red tape and saving winemakers $25 million
- New Ministerial Council on International Trade to better coordinate trade-related activities and reforms by Australia’s federal and state governments
- Comprehensive review of Australia's export policies and programs