Report 183

November 2018

© Commonwealth of Australia 2018
ISBN: 978-1-74366-884-9

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Executive Summary

Abbreviations

Members

  Committee Secretariat

Terms of Reference

List of Recommendations

1. Introduction

  Referral of the inquiry
  Conduct and scope of the inquiry

2. PAFTA

  Background
  Current market status
  Improvements under PAFTA
  Ratification

3. Proliferation of trade agreements

  Multiple trade agreements
  Benefits
  Complexity
  Assistance for Australian businesses
  Side letters

4. Investor-State Dispute Settlement Provisions

  ISDS explained
  Risks
  Support for ISDS
  Improvements and safeguards
  Possible improvements
  Alternatives

5. Committee comment

  Number of trade agreements
  Investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms
  Ratification of PAFTA

A. Submissions

B. Witnesses

Additional Comments

  The ‘noodle bowl’ problem
  Independent economic analysis and modelling
  Labour market concessions and labour deregulation through trade
  Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)

Dissenting Report

  Recommendations

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 4002
jsct@aph.gov.au

About this inquiry

This inquiry will examine aspects of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the Republic of Peru (Peru FTA) (Canberra, 12 February 2018). Noting its August 2018 report, the Committee will again consider:

• ongoing concerns over the increasing complexity created by the number of trade agreements, particularly multiple agreements with the same partner; and

• the specific inclusion and operation of the ISDS provisions in recently concluded trade agreements.






Past Public Hearings

08 Nov 2018: MELBOURNE

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