CONTENTS

Members of the Committee (PDF format) (Word format)

List of Acronyms (PDF format) (Word format)

Preface (PDF format) (Word format)

Recommendations (PDF format) (Word format)

Chapter One: Introduction and conduct of the inquiry (PDF format) (Word format)
Referral of the inquiry
Terms of reference
Conduct of the Inquiry

Chapter Two: The Trade Debate (PDF format) (Word format)
From Bretton Woods to the World Trade Organisation
Trade for development and poverty reduction
Multilateral v bilateral trade agreements

Chapter Three: Treaties and the parliamentary process (PDF format) (Word format)
The Constitution and the treaty–making process
The 1996 reforms
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
Consultation and parliamentary scrutiny of treaties
Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Report—Trick or Treaty?
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Report—Who’s afraid of the WTO?
Conclusions

Chapter Four: Introduction to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (PDF format) (Word format)
What is the GATS?
Structure of the GATS
Structure and function of a GATS schedule
How is this GATS round negotiated?
Public speculation and concerns about the GATS
Australia’s involvement – an outline of the story so far
Importance of services trade to the Australian economy

Chapter Five: GATS: implications and impacts (PDF format) (Word format)
GATS and public services
GATS and the right to regulate
The public consultation process

Chapter Six: The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (PDF format) (Word format)
What is a free trade agreement?
Australia’s economic relationship with the United States
History of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (US FTA)
Why a Free Trade Agreement?
Adequacy of the economic analysis
Key issues of concern with the US FTA
Specific issues arising from FTA negotiations
Consultation and transparency

Minority Report by Government Members (PDF format) (Word format)
Senators Johnston and Macdonald

Additional Comments by the Australian Democrats (PDF format) (Word format)
Senator Aden Ridgeway

Additional Comments by the Australian Greens (PDF format) (Word format)
Senator Kerry Nettle

APPENDICES

Appendix One: Submissions received by the Committee (PDF format) (Word format)

Appendix Two: Witnesses who appeared before the Committee at public hearings (PDF format) (Word format)

Melbourne, 8 May 2003
Melbourne, 9 May 2003
Canberra, 22 July 2003
Sydney, 23 July 2003
Brisbane, 24 July 2003
Canberra, 2 October 2003

Appendix Three: Australia-US Free Trade Agreement: Australian Objectives (PDF format) (Word format)

Appendix Four: US Trade Representative Zoellick’s Letter to Congress on US Objectives (PDF format) (Word format)