US-Australia trade agreement

THE 2009 Fulbright Symposium, hosted by UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law, will focus attention on the impact of the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement and how it has fared in a changing economic and political environment.

To be held in Canberra in August, the Symposium will provide a forum to discuss the future of trade relations between Australia, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific Region.
“Just last week we’ve seen competing claims from government and the ACTU on the benefits of free trade and the need to protect Australian jobs,” says Kimberlee Weatherall, co-convener of the symposium.

“We need to discuss the impact of changing times on existing and future trade agreements.”

In addition to sessions on the future of trade policy and trade relations, the symposium will provide opportunities for more detailed debate on a range of specific policy areas.

These include intellectual property, agriculture, television and film content and funding rules, financial services, public procurement, and pharmaceuticals and health policy.

Speakers include Mark Vaile (pictured), former minister for trade, who was responsible for the development and implementation of the Australia-US
Free Trade Agreement, and professor Mac Destler from the University of  Maryland, a leading American expert on trade policy.

The symposium also includes a number of well known economic and trade experts from government, industry, think tanks and academia.

The symposium titled ‘US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: the last 5 years, the next 5 years’ will be held on August 24 to 25 at Old Parliament House, Canberra.
More info at: www.law.uq.edu.au/fulbright2009