Australia signs ASEAN free trade area deal

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Updated February 27, 2009 19:55:28

Australia has signed a free trade area deal with the Association of South East Asian Nations and New Zealand in what is Australia's biggest free trade agreement.

Over time tariffs will come down in areas that will assist the Australian beef and dairy industries .. as well as the automotive sector, pharmaceuticals and electrical machinery.

Trade between the nations has been growing at a rate of about 10-percent a year in the past ten years and Australian Trade Minister, Simon Crean, is confident that will continue in spite of the global economic crisis.

Presenter: Karen Percy
Speaker: Simon Crean, Trade Minister, Australia

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