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U.S.
Chamber Urges Zoellick To Launch FTA Negotiations With Australia
March 15, 2002
The Honorable Robert Zoellick
United States Trade Representative
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
600 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20508
Dear Ambassador Zoellick:
The United States Chamber of Commerce and the
American Chamber of Commerce in Australia support the launch of negotiations for
a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia. Towards that end, we were
encouraged by your recent meeting with Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile
whereby you both directed your staffs to examine the elements of a possible FTA
and report the results in the coming months. Building on the progress and
success of that meeting, we request that you give expedited review and
consideration to the commencement of free trade agreement negotiations with
Australia within the first half of the year.
A free trade agreement with Australia will bring
bilateral and regional benefits to the United States. Australia is an important
trade and investment hub in the Asia-Pacific. An FTA with this key trading
partner represents a prime opportunity to advance freer trade in the region.
Pursuing closer bilateral trade ties with Australia in a time of global economic
slowdown and increased security risks benefits both countries. And, it sends a
positive signal to the American business community that the Bush Administration
is forging ahead with opening foreign markets and encouraging free trade. In
addition, the FTA enjoys support from key Congressional members on both sides of
the aisle. Finally, it will serve to advance the goal of achieving open markets
globally in the WTO's Doha Development Agenda.
The Honorable Robert Zoellick
March 15, 2002
Page Two
The opportunities presented by commencing free
trade negotiations with Australia are clear. The establishment of a timetable
for the launch of such negotiations is the next step towards this mutually
beneficial trade proposal. As other major trading nations are moving to conclude
trade arrangements to favor their industries so must the United States act to
prevent exclusion from expanded trade opportunities. We ask that you make it a
top trade priority of the 2002 agenda, and begin free trade negotiations within
the first half of this year. We hope that you will give due consideration to our
views and seize this opportunity to move forward in seeking a free trade
agreement with Australia.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Donohue
President and CEO
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Charles W. Blunt
National Director and CEO
American Chamber of Commerce
in Australia
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