Timing of India trade deal questioned
Dominic Giannini and Paul Osborne |
A minute to midnight free trade agreement with India on the eve of a federal election risks overlooking important industries that aren’t “headline-grabbing”, a Labor frontbencher says.
Madeline King says it’s hard not to read announcements that a trade deal could be completed by the end of the week through the “lens of a dying government desperately trying to create a legacy at the eleventh hour”.
“Things like language and cultural training, which are vital for healthy business relations but not as headline-grabbing as a trade deal,” the opposition’s spokeswoman for trade said in an address to the Australia-British Chamber of Commerce.
“Or improving our education relationship, by supporting Australian universities to partner with Indian institutions to teach skills and professions to Indian students.”
Ms King chastised the government for only implementing one of 90 recommendations of a 2018 review into economic relations with India by former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese.
“So when (Trade Minister Dan) Tehan turns up to a ceremonial signing of a free trade agreement – interim or otherwise – with India, he will likely herald it as historic, legacy-making and economically transformative,” Ms King said.
“It would be a fine thing for Australia and India if he were right. But Australians will be well within their rights to ask what the Morrison government is settling for, just so it can have a photo op at a minute to midnight before the election.”
Mr Tehan says the deal with India could happen within days after multiple rounds of negotiations between the two countries, with former prime minister Tony Abbott even called in last year to help the stalled negotiations.
Two-way goods and services trade with India is worth more than $24 billion.
“I’m hoping that we will be able to do it over the next few days,” Mr Tehan told ABC Radio National on Monday.
“These are tough discussions and obviously in the end we’ve got to make sure it is in our national interest and … in India’s national interest.
“My hope would be we would have something by the end of this week or early next week.”
The deal is considered critical for Australia, following recent export bans from China.
There have been several rounds of negotiations since 2011, but a trade agreement has failed to eventuate.
The trade deal, formally known as the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, would seek to boost opportunities in education, agriculture, energy, tourism and infrastructure among other areas.
During negotiations in August, Mr Tehan said both nations wanted to progress the deal but it required a serious commitment from both sides.
AAP
