Manufacturing tariffs to stay in China FTA
ABC Online, Australia
Manufacturing tariffs to stay in China FTA
20 August 2006
The Federal Industry Minister has ruled out abolishing import tariffs in the automotive and clothing industries as part of a free trade agreement with China.
It is expected Chinese negotiators will push for import tariffs to be cut to allow China to sell more products in the Australian market.
Unions have condemned China’s suggestion, saying the clothing and automotive industries will suffer if the concession is made.
Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane has told Channel Nine he will stick to the existing industry plans, which expire in 2015.
"They’re not negotiable and it’s understood that those plans have given the industries involved a decade of certainty and it would be unwise to interfere with those plans in terms of the China FTA," he said.
Mr MacFarlane says Australia will protect its industries.
"Australia has made a commitment to the car industry in particular, we’ve put $7.2 billion into that industry over 15 years and we’ve given them a guarantee of where we’re going in regard to their industry," he said.
"They are facing some enormous challenges at the moment, particularly in the components sector, so we want to see that plan run through."
