Zoellick, Vaile Talk Free Trade

February 1, 2002

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile met in Washington this week and talked about the values of a U.S.-Australian free trade agreement. Absent from initial reports from Zoellick's office was any significant reference to changes in the farm bill that Vaile and the Bush administration want.

The two "considered how they might advance the proposal for a possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Australia," the USTR statement said. "They discussed how an FTA could contribute to their shared goals of achieving open markets globally in the WTO's Doha Development Agenda and in the Asia-Pacific region. They directed their staffs to examine the elements of a possible FTA and to provide the results of this work in the coming months."

As almost an afterthought, the statement added, "They also agreed on the necessity of continuing work on resolving the full range of outstanding agriculture problems." One of Vaile's reported goals on his visit was to put pressure on the Bush administration to press for changes in farmer subsidies contained in the farm bills making their way through Congress.

"At the same time, they agreed to intensify consultations with relevant stake holders in determining the administration's position," the USTR statement added, an apparent reference to agriculture policy and a FTA. "In this regard, Ambassador Zoellick noted the support of key members of Congress for an FTA and stressed his intention to continue Congressional consultations."