The Aus-US Free Trade Agreement (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Free-trade-deal-clinched-with-US/2004/11/18/1100718124384.html

Australia and the United States have reached a final agreement on the Free Trade Agreement which will come into force on January 1 as originally planned.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, in Santiago, Chile for the APEC meeting, said Australia had agreed to what he said were some minor changes at the request of the US.

But that won't affect the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, he said.

"We have obviously talked through with the Americans particularly since our election, and they have had their election as well in that period of time, some of the reservations they have had," he told ABC radio.

"We have agreed to a number of technical measures which we think will strike the right balance.

"We will be able to protect our pharmaceuticals sector and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which we always said we would do."

Mr Downer said there some questions about copyright and penalties on copyright which Australia had agreed to take up.

"But otherwise it will all come into force on January 1 next year and that will be the greatest single trade agreement that Australia has ever concluded," he said.

Interesting.

 

[superbird]

I dont know why people make a big fuss out of this. Personally, I reckon its a great thing for Australia ,in particular, with strengthening our alliance with the US.

 

[Iron]

I remember the good old days when we could keep going on about 5 threads for weeks at a time...now we get 5 of the same threads every day.

 

[lengstar]

I dont know why people make a big fuss out of this. Personally, I reckon its a great thing for Australia ,in particular, with strengthening our alliance with the US.

Your an idiot! If all you care about is the Australian-United States Alliance your fucked in the head. There a many consequences to altering the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to favour the US. How about you read the about these before brown-nosing to the States. Its just like you to ignore other people's opinions and remain ignorant of the facts before making a decision.

 

[neo o]

Your an idiot! If all you care about is the Australian-United States Alliance your fucked in the head. There a many consequences to altering the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to favour the US. How about you read the about these before brown-nosing to the States. Its just like you to ignore other people's opinions and remain ignorant of the facts before making a decision.

Please explain to us the consequences of altering the PBS, otherwise we may end up thinking that you too, are ignorant of the "facts".

Also, it's rather ironic that you accuse others of being "idiots" because of their opinions, yet whine in the same post about how people value yours.

 

[neo o]

I remember the good old days when we could keep going on about 5 threads for weeks at a time...now we get 5 of the same threads every day.

Gay marriage:

V1
V2
V3
V4

 

[lengstar]

Do I have to? I studied it for uni! Come on... i'm not asqy, he can argue for me

 

[Stan..]

Which in English means we get raped of our resources and in exchange we get to become an American satillite state.

 

[lengstar]

okay okay... the general idea ( please note i was half asleep in lectures and almost never turned up ) is that the pharmaceutical benefits scheme is in place to oversee new medications available for use by the general public. pharmaceutical companies in america want to keep patents ( intellectual property of their medications aka they make new meds through research and was recognition and money for it ) and not let other companies steal their products by introduction cheap generic copies to the market. PBS makes sure new meds are worthwhile and safe enough to introduce to the market for a certain time period before the cheap generic brands can be introduced at a more affordable price. something like that. do you want me to read about it again?

 

[paper cup]

Gay marriage:

V1
V2
V3
V4

heh, what about abortion.

 

[hiphophorray123]

i hope that doesn't mean download music will be strictly supervised

 

[neo o]

heh, what about abortion.

My apologies, that too.

You have to understand that I'm particularly attached to the original gay marriage thread though.

 

[Nick]

i'd rather we become the poorest country on earth than get flooded with even more american tv shows

 

[lengstar]

i'd rather we become the poorest country on earth than get flooded with even more american tv shows

come on, its not THAT bad. just don't watch tv.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Yes, because australian tv is so great.
Give me neighbours 24/7 please

 

[neo o]

i'd rather we become the poorest country on earth than get flooded with even more american tv shows

Well obviously the vast majority of Australians disagree with you, since the networks provide what people want to see.

Besides, there is a HUGE amount of Australian content on prime time television, and even some British, so i don't know what youre talking about, or is this just some more anti-american, leftist style racism?

 

[jm1234567890]

woooo, cheaper cars and electronics

 

[Not-That-Bright]

lol yea, i agree... holden + ford have had too good a market here.. they're making HUGE markup.

 

[hiphophorray123]

aus tv is boring as

 

[Nick]

aus tv is boring as

try checking sbs and abc

shows like the glasshouse, safran, pizza, movie shows, docos, wildside, catalyst, cutting edge, enough rope, etc