SINGAPORE-AUSTRALIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
MEDIA-INFO KIT
Introduction
Negotiations for the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) were launched by the Prime Ministers of both sides at the fringe of the APEC Leaders’ Summit on 15 November 2000. After 10 formal rounds of meetings, substantive negotiations on key issues were concluded in late October 2002, and on 3 November 2002, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Singapore and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, announced in their respective countries, the conclusion of negotiations. The Agreement then underwent a process of technical and legal vetting in preparation for signing. Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, BG George Yeo, and the Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, will sign the Agreement on Monday, 17 February 2002 in Singapore. The Agreement includes the following chapters: Trade in Goods Rules of Origin Customs Procedures Mutual Recognition Government Procurement Trade in Services Investment Financial Services Telecommunication Services Movement of Business Persons Competition Policy Intellectual Property Electronic Commerce Education Cooperation
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The Agreement also contains provisions for dispute settlement and review of the Agreement. The SAFTA marks another milestone in economic relations between Singapore and Australia. The key areas covered by the Agreement and the expected benefits are described in more detail in this info kit. You may contact the Ministry of Trade and Industry should you have further general queries. For specific queries on commitments made in each chapter, information on contact persons can be found at the end of the write-up in each chapter.
Ministry of Trade and Industry 100 High Street #09-01 The Treasury Singapore 179434 Tel: (65) 6225 9911 Fax: (65) 6332 7260 E-mail: MTI_FTA@mti.gov.sg URL: www.mti.gov.sg Ms. Alamelu Subramaniam Manager Corporate Communications DID: (65) 6332 7210 Fax: (65) 6332 3418...