Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements

Download the draft report

• Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements (PDF - 1399 Kb)

Download the draft report by chapters

• Preliminaries (PDF - 253 Kb)
  Cover, Copyright, Opportunity for further comment, Terms of reference, Disclosure of interests, Contents and Abbreviations
• Overview - including key points (PDF - 206 Kb)
• Draft recommendations (PDF - 114 Kb)

Part A - Introduction

• Chapter 1 About the study (PDF - 117 Kb)
  1.1 The reference
  1.2 Conduct of the study
• Chapter 2 What are BRTAs? (PDF - 128 Kb)
  2.1 Types of trade agreements
  2.2 Australia's BRTAs
  2.3 Other countries' agreements

Part B - BRTAs within the broader policy landscape

• Chapter 3 International trade and investment flows (PDF - 226 Kb)
  3.1 Global trends
  3.2 Australian trends
  3.3 Summing up
• Chapter 4 The institutional environment (PDF - 229 Kb)
  4.1 The World Trade Organization
  4.2 Other multilateral institutions
  4.3 Bilateral and regional agreements and institutions
  4.4 Domestic policies and programs
• Chapter 5 The changing nature and reach of BRTAs (PDF - 200 Kb)
  5.1 Growth in preferential trade agreements
  5.2 The evolving nature of PTAs
  5.3 The scope of specific PTAs in force
  5.4 The global reach of trade agreements

Part C - Evaluating the economic impacts of BRTAs

• Chapter 6 Effects on barriers to trade and investment (PDF - 239 Kb)
  6.1 Reductions in barriers for members
  6.2 Broader effects on trade and investment barriers
  6.3 Summing up
• Chapter 7 Impacts on business and government (PDF - 228 Kb)
  7.1 Views of business
  7.2 Impacts on government
  7.3 Summing up
• Chapter 8 Trade and economic effects: merchandise (PDF - 254 Kb)
  8.1 Some theory on impacts
  8.2 Other studies
  8.3 Modelling reductions in trade barriers
  8.4 Broader economic impacts
  8.5 Observed changes in trade flows
  8.6 Summing up
• Chapter 9 Trade and economic effects: services and investment (PDF - 201 Kb)
  9.1 Services trade
  9.2 Investment
  9.3 Summing up
• Chapter 10 Other possible economic effects (PDF - 254 Kb)
  10.1 Domestically focused regulation
  10.2 Economic integration
  10.3 Summing up

Part D - Future approach to BRTAs

• Chapter 11 Policy objectives for trade agreements (PDF - 260 Kb)
  11.1 Appropriate policy objectives
  11.2 Reducing barriers in our trading partners
  11.3 Reducing our own trade and investment barriers
  11.4 Economic cooperation and integration
  11.5 Non-trade objectives
  11.6 Summing up
• Chapter 12 Future approaches to trade liberalisation and the role of BRTAs (PDF - 231 Kb)
  12.1 Unilateral reform
  12.2 Multilateral reform
  12.3 Bilateral and regional agreements
• Chapter 13 Design of future BRTAs (PDF - 278 Kb)
  13.1 Best practice principles
  13.2 Comprehensiveness of agreements
  13.3 Rules of origin
  13.4 Some specific provisions
  13.5 Multilateralising provisions
  13.6 Assisting other countries
• Chapter 14 Processes for establishing BRTAs (PDF - 202 Kb)
  14.1 Current processes
  14.2 Selecting and prioritising partners
  14.3 Estimating potential benefits
  14.4 Engagement and consultation processes
  14.5 Parliamentary involvement

Appendices

• Appendix A Public consultation (PDF - 141 Kb)
• References (PDF - 167 Kb)