Simon Crean, what is the Free Trade Area Agreement with ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand going to mean?
SIMON CREAN: It will mean significantly increased opportunities for trade with the ASEAN group of countries and Australia and New Zealand. From Australia’s perspective, there is already $80 billion in two-way trade with ASEAN. In comparative terms, that is larger than any two-way trade we have with a single country. It’s bigger than China, bigger than Japan, bigger than the US. So, this is a big market opportunity for us in what is already our largest group trading partner. What the FTA does it to provide improved market access. That means better opportunities for our exporters. It means increased job opportunities in Australia PERCY: In what sectors in particular will Australia be able to gain better market access in this region? CREAN: It covers all of the sectors. That’s the other good thing about this agreement, it’s a comprehensive agreement. It covers goods, and it’s not just agriculture and food products – its manufactured products, its services and its investment. PERCY: Who do
