Experts from around the world will be attending a symposium in Canberra next week to review the impact of the historic free trade agreement signed between the US and Australia five years ago this month (August).
The two-day 2009 Fulbright Symposium - The US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: the last five years, the next five years – will take place on August 24 and 25 at Old Parliament House, Canberra.
Hosted by the University of Queensland’s TC Beirne School of Law and funded the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the Symposium will bring together academics and policy makers from a range of disciplines to discuss the impact of the Agreement.
Conference organiser and TC Beirne School of Law academic Ms Kimberlee Weatherall said the Symposium provided a timely opportunity to reassess the Agreement in light of evolving conditions in international trade, and the changes which have occurred within the governments of both countries.
“We are fortunate to have a range of engaging and very knowledgeable speakers covering aspects from agriculture to government procurement, financial services and investment, to intellectual property rights and pharmaceuticals policy.
“The time is ripe to reflect on what has been gained and lost as a result of Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), and on what lessons we can take from the agreement for other trade negotiations, and in future trade and other interactions between the US and Australia.
“When the Agreement was signed five years ago, its supporters claimed it would secure economic benefits running into billions of dollars for both countries. AUSFTA’s critics, on the other hand, feared interference in domestic policy-making, an end to content rules supporting local production of film and television, more expensive pharmaceuticals owing to the impact on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and pointed to exclusions and long lead times reducing any benefits to Australia’s agricultural industries.”
“Five years on, with the benefit of both time and experience, these hopes, fears and predictions are ripe for reassessment,” Ms Weatherall said.
Media:
Ms Kimberlee Weatherall,
TC Beirne School of Law, k.weatherall@law.uq.edu.au, 07 3346 7503
Associate Professor Robert Burrell,
TC Beirne School of Law, r.burrell@law.uq.edu.au, 07 3365 9123
