Australian trade minister attends ASEAN economic ministers meeting
Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean is taking part in the ASEAN Economic Ministers - Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) consultations in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Saturday.
The meeting is being attended by 14 economic ministers from ASEAN and ministers of four countries outside ASEAN.
Australia is pressing hard to finalize negotiations this year on the Australia-ASEAN-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
The Bali meeting will also provide Crean with an opportunity to continue Australia`s efforts to pursue a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Round this year, including in meetings with United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab and India`s Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.
The AEM-CER consultations bring together ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries with the trade ministers of Australia and New Zealand (parties to the CER Agreement).
Crean said Australia had put forward an ambitious offer to ASEAN and in turn was seeking ambitious commitments from ASEAN ministers to conclude a comprehensive free-trade agreement.
Meanwhile, a media release from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta said Crean was committed to concluding a strong agreement and would be looking for similar commitment from his ASEAN counterparts.
"Australia, ASEAN and New Zealand have made solid progress on the negotiations in recent months, and the scope of the agreement is emerging more clearly," Crean said.
"But as outstanding issues become more sharply defined, it`s clear that tough negotiations lie ahead. All sides will need to show more flexibility if we are to reach an agreement this year," he added.
Australian businesses have identified barriers to ASEAN markets, especially in manufactured goods, agriculture and services. Australia is seeking to reduce barriers, including on services, in the negotiations.
"Reducing these barriers will benefit Australian businesses, and it will also benefit ASEAN," Crean said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"The consultations provide an important and timely opportunity to resolve some key outstanding issues in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand and ASEAN," the Australian trade minister said. (*)
The meeting is being attended by 14 economic ministers from ASEAN and ministers of four countries outside ASEAN.
Australia is pressing hard to finalize negotiations this year on the Australia-ASEAN-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
The Bali meeting will also provide Crean with an opportunity to continue Australia`s efforts to pursue a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Round this year, including in meetings with United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab and India`s Commerce Minister Kamal Nath.
The AEM-CER consultations bring together ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries with the trade ministers of Australia and New Zealand (parties to the CER Agreement).
Crean said Australia had put forward an ambitious offer to ASEAN and in turn was seeking ambitious commitments from ASEAN ministers to conclude a comprehensive free-trade agreement.
Meanwhile, a media release from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta said Crean was committed to concluding a strong agreement and would be looking for similar commitment from his ASEAN counterparts.
"Australia, ASEAN and New Zealand have made solid progress on the negotiations in recent months, and the scope of the agreement is emerging more clearly," Crean said.
"But as outstanding issues become more sharply defined, it`s clear that tough negotiations lie ahead. All sides will need to show more flexibility if we are to reach an agreement this year," he added.
Australian businesses have identified barriers to ASEAN markets, especially in manufactured goods, agriculture and services. Australia is seeking to reduce barriers, including on services, in the negotiations.
"Reducing these barriers will benefit Australian businesses, and it will also benefit ASEAN," Crean said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"The consultations provide an important and timely opportunity to resolve some key outstanding issues in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand and ASEAN," the Australian trade minister said. (*)