United States- Australia Free Trade Implementation Act

UNITED STATES-AUSTRALIA FREE TRADE IMPLEMENTATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - July 14, 2004)

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 712, I call up the bill (H.R. 4759) to implement the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4759, the U.S.-Australia FTA. This agreement is the most commercially significant bilateral trade agreement outside of North America that the United States has entered into. It also addresses several issues that we have concerns about dealing with labor, the environment, and human rights. Because of the strength and the size of Australia, we can deal and talk about rights that are respective for all.

Plus, for example, in the automotive sector, free trade between the United States and Australia will allow greater trade opportunities in auto products between our two countries. U.S. auto makers produce over 70 percent of all passenger vehicles made in Australia.

Other industries also benefit from this agreement: telecommunications, financial services, and our technological firms, with greater intellectual property protections.

Abroad, this agreement provides Australia with an opportunity to facilitate a higher quality of health care for its people. Though Australia has recognized the significant role played by innovative U.S. pharmaceutical companies in delivering high-quality health care, the problem of pharmaceutical price controls is still an issue. It is important that future trade negotiations more closely examine the possible impact of unfair trade practices that are shifting the cost of pharmaceutical research and development just simply to the American consumer.

Mr. Speaker, this is a momentous agreement and is worthy of strong support from this body, for this is not just a free trade agreement, it is indeed, in every sense of the word, a fair trade agreement.