Bush asks Congress to approve Australia trade deal

US President George Bush has urged the US Congress to promptly approve a recently negotiated free-trade agreement with Australia. Following a White House meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Bush said the pact would "deepen our strong economic ties" with Australia. The US Congress and the Australian parliament "should ratify the free-trade agreement as soon as possible," he told reporters.

Two-way trade between Australia and the United States totals about $28 billion a year. US industry estimates the free-trade deal would increase sales of manufactured goods by about $2 billion in the first year of implementation. US trade officials also argue the agreement would remove barriers to investment, government procurement and services. They say it also would enhance copyright protections for music, movies and computer software.

American farmers, however, have been ambivalent. As the agreement was being negotiated, cattle ranchers, dairy and wheat farmers all complained it would do little to boost their exports. US hog farmers, however, see the trade pact as a positive step.

The 13-million member AFL-CIO labour federation opposes the arrangement, which they say would lead to more US jobs moving overseas.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/1086203575637.html

"PLEASE DONT PULL YOUR TROOPS FROM IRAQ!!!! PRETTY PLEASE!!! I DONT WANNA BE LIKE MY DADDY!!!! WHAAAAA!!!!!!"

Hell of a "coalition"

Being Australian I'm against the deal. It'll do nothing but open up Australia to a rape and pillage by US corporations.

proposed Australian pullout of Iraq, proposed by Latham from the opposition party? Nahhhhh, nothing to see here, just movin' on!

x

or anything to hurt his own country economically just to stay in power. If the Aussies pull out, he will look bad. He will sacrifice all of us just for this political future.