U.S., Aussie to open FTA talks

U.S., Aussie to open FTA talks

SYDNEY: Australia and the United States will open talks here
this week aimed at securing a free trade pact slashing import
barriers across all industries including agriculture, officials
said Wednesday.

Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said he would meet U.S.
Trade Representative Bob Zoellick for private talks on the deal
Thursday ahead of a World Trade Organization ministerial meeting
the following day.

Although Australia has been pushing to begin talks on a Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States for more than two
years, it has been stymied until now by the opposition of the
powerful U.S. farm lobby.

But the U.S. farmers are understood to have relaxed their
stance and reports here said Zoellick's office would advise the
U.S. Congress Thursday of its intention to begin negotiations,
triggering a 90-day notification procedure. -- AFP