지난 10월 5일 한국경제 신문에 앤드류 롭 통상투자장관의 인터뷰가 실렸습니다. 10월 1일부터 5일까지 방한 기간 중에 진행된 인터뷰에서 한호FTA에 관한 내용을 중점으로 인터뷰가 진행되었습니다. 자세한 내용은 링크를 통해 확인해보세요. hankyung/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2014100574691 Minister Robb’s interview was published by Korea Economic Daily on 5 October. The interview focused on KAFTA and find out full interview story at hankyung/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2014100574691 Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment of Australia: “KAFTA was ratified in the Australian Parliament…It’s the Korean National Assembly’s turn now” “It’s the Korean National Assembly’s turn now” Andrew Robb, Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister said during an interview with the Korea Economic Daily (KED) that 95 per cent of the Australian Parliament has given full support to KAFTA, and urged the Korean National Assembly to pass the KAFTA bill quickly. The Korean Government submitted KAFTA, concluded in April, to the National Assembly but the bill has yet to be ratified. Minister Robb said that KAFTA needs to come into effect by the end of this year for both Korean and Australian firms to reap the benefits of 2 tariff reductions in quick succession, one at the end of this year and another one next January. He added that the earlier the entry into force of KAFTA, the more chances for Korean automobiles, which are very popular in Australia, to claim the upper hand in the Australian market compared to competitors who don’t yet have an FTA with Australia. This is because as soon as KAFTA gets implemented, Australia will eliminate the current 5 per cent tariff on Korean automobiles (small gasoline vehicles under 1000-1500㏄, medium vehicles 1500-3000㏄) and automotive parts. The Australian Government is undertaking a record 125 billion dollar project to secure social overhead capital (SOC) such as roads, ports, and smart cities, which will provide Korean firms with great opportunities. Minister Robb acknowledged that Korean firms have been branching out into Australia’ energy and natural resources sectors over the past decade, and predicted that the early implementation of KAFTA would mean more Korean investments into Australian infrastructure, which has been growing faster than ever. KAFTA also includes an ISDS clause, which would lower Korean investors’ risks caused by changes in the Australian Government policies. Minister Robb said not only the manufacturing sector but also the services sector of both countries would benefit from KAFTA. This is because financial and legal services exchanges increase as a result of more trade of goods. He said that Korean manufacturers have helped Australians a lot, and hoped that Australian services, which take up 80 per cent of the Australian economy, (such as financial, legal, medical, and educational services) would be able to offer a lot of help to Korea. Korea and Australia launched the very first Services Sector Promotional Forum under the Korea-Australia Business Council precisely for this reason, to tighten the cooperation in the services sector. As for Korea’s participation in the TPP, Minister Robb said that Australia, along with all of the 12 existing negotiators, welcomes Korea’s participation in the TPP negotiations. Minister Robb expected the TPP to be concluded at the end of this year or early next year, saying that 90 per cent of the TPP negotiations has been concluded, with only 10 per cent still to be worked on. He added that once the US and Japan finish their discussion on the market access area (Japan’s rice market opening etc.), other members of the TPP would be able to conclude negotiations in the relevant areas. Minister Robb constantly emphasized that Korea and Australia will also be able to see some intangible benefits from KAFTA. He said Korea and Australia’s mutual trust and partnership in security and diplomacy, which was built up since the Korean War, will only be strengthened as a result of KAFTA. -Resource, Korea Economic Daily, A6 page, 5 October-
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 00:14:51 +0000
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