Tony
Abbott has secured a historic trade deal with Japan worth tens of billions of
dollars to the Australian economy over the next 20 years.
The
deal will free up exports of dairy, beef, wine, and a range of services, while
also making Japanese cars, cameras, televisions and other high-tech goods
cheaper in Australia.
Trade
Minister Andrew Robb confirmed the deal in the Japanese capital on Monday
afternoon, and Mr Abbott is expected to shake hands with Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe on Monday evening in Tokyo.
It will then be subject to "lawyering" on both sides and must clear the hurdles of final parliamentary approval.
The hard-fought deal
came at the end of seven years of negotiations, with the final six months
proving "extremely rigorous" according to officials.
Mr Robb, who handled
much of the hard grind of negotiations with his Japanese counterpart, Minister
Hayashi, said he was honoured to be part of the agreement.
"After seven
long years of negotiation, this historic agreement has been concluded," he
said in the Japanese Capital on Monday afternoon.
"It's been,
especially the last six months, it's been a very tough negotiation but it's been
conducted with a lot of goodwill on both sides.
"It is an
agreement which is a historic one in its extent of liberalisation that Japan
has concede to. It will benefit greatly Australian businesses, Australian jobs
and Australian consumers, with cuts in car prices of up to $1500 on the average
car.
"I dont want to
pre-empt the formal conclusion of this negotiation by our two prime ministers
in a short while, but just want to say what an honour it is to be involved in
this historic agreement.
"It builds on
the trade treaty of 1957 which was the foundation for so much of our great
relationship, our great business and cultural relationship since then and it
will take that relationship to another level."
While details have
not yet been released, trade officials say it represents the best deal ever
granted by the giant Japanese economy to another nation.
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