Free Trade Agreement? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

tonyk · 08-08-2004, 00:52

Should we sign up with ammendments, without ammendments, not at all?

dodge · 08-08-2004, 03:30

still dont know whats it going to do to us aussies. will it mean we will have more rich yanks buying up aussie companies, or do we just get sent leftovers for our very high quality produce and minerals

big_pete · 08-08-2004, 03:47

i havent voted on the poll, as i am grossly uninformed as to what australia is/isnt going to get from the deal.

its like we've been left out of the loop........

T_Terror · 08-08-2004, 04:35

I voted for the Howard Version FTA. Although im not well informed either, from what i understand Labours objections to the FTA was more to keep them relevant in the process than for any real trade benefits.

And i dont see why majority think we should be having closer ties to the Asian region. Australia has a fair few people in that region who dont look on us too favourably not to mention the shocking business practises in countries like CHina.

Methodx · 08-08-2004, 04:48

The Latham version so we dont get an American style health system (for the rich)

im worried about our car industry
i dont want GM and Ford saying , Its far cheaper to dump boatloads of Taurus and Chev Impalas on the Ausies instead of making cars there.

Beefchief · 08-08-2004, 05:17

Here's a bit of info:

http://www.alp.org.au/media/0804/20008104.html

Not much detail, but if anyone else can find something better then post it here.

Ford Grunt · 08-08-2004, 21:03

Bring it on. Cheaper proformance parts for our aussie Fords :)

I reakon some Americans might me getting nervious that alot more Mustangs will be leaving the US on route to Australia :)

dave_au · 08-08-2004, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methodx

The Latham version so we dont get an American style health system (for the rich)

It wasn't about that at all: infact the majority of the criticism towards the FTA lies in the harmonization (or is that harmonisation ?) of Patent laws with the United States, in particular, the issue lies with how strict a Patent can be and whether Pharmaceutical companies can place a Patent on a generic brand, eg if Panadol could place a patent on their Paracetamol pills and force Heron out of the market (as a general example).

Oh yeah, food for thought - we already see Lutz talking about moving the GTO production stateside. With all this harmonisation through compatible parts and shared archeitecture, wouldn't it be economically effective having all the cars coming from one factory ? First we'll have a US version of a Commodore, and before you know it (well, maybe 10-20 years) we could see all commodore (or falcon) production moving stateside - unless we can produce a more efficient product, better, faster and cheaper to warrant shipping costs. Worse case scenario to be sure to be true.

XWGT · 08-08-2004, 21:32

The total lack of details seems to be the issue.
I am yet to see a full listing of the details (admittedly I havnt looked to hard) but the fact I have not seen it splashed across the pages of The Age, The Australian or the Fin Review seems to imply no one else has seen the full agreement either?

Methodx · 08-08-2004, 21:35

Yes your right mate
primarily it has to do with the big Yank drug companies blocking the sale of cheap generic versions of the drugs they sell.
Johnny says they cant, but who knows what lawyers can do

As for cars
Well Lutz said from the beginning that he wanted Holden to design the next generation of rear wheel drive architecture for the Nort American Market.
So yes Holden will have to be on the ball in the next few years.