Former Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister, Tim Fischer, will represent Australia on a high-level taskforce to examine the feasibility of linking the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and Closer Economic Relations (CER) partners - Australia and New Zealand - in a free trade area by 2010. Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, announced the appointment today, saying Mr Fischer was ideally suited to the position given his very high standing in south-east Asia. "As one of Australia's most successful Trade Ministers, Tim Fischer, brings a wealth of experience in pursuing closer economic and trade relations with the ASEAN countries," Mr Vaile said. "The task-force on which he will represent Australia gives us an opportunity to look at ways to enhance access to ASEAN markets for goods, services and investment." "The Government is not taking the Seattle WTO setback lying down. We will continue to seek out new export opportunities wherever they may be," Mr Vaile said. Mr Vaile said the Government would be consulting with the private sector on this trade policy initiative. Australian export businesses already benefit from the practical work on streamlining standards, customs procedures and quarantine cooperation undertaken in the AFTA-CER process. ASEAN includes Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Together they account for more than 12 per cent of Australia's exports.
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