Australia

AUSTRALIA – MEXICO
JOINT EXPERTS GROUP ON
STRENGTHENING BILATERAL
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
JOINT REPORT

This study was prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Australia and the Ministry of the Economy, Mexico.

Contents
Executive Summary

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Chapter One – Introduction
Background
Australia-Mexico Relations
The Joint Experts Group Process
Mexican Study
AustralianStudy
Formation of the JEG
Structure of this Report

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Chapter Two – The Trade and Investment Relationship
Overview
Summaries by Sector
Energy
Mining
Industrial Goods
Agriculture (including food and beverages)
Services
Australia
Mexico
Education and Training
Table 1: Mexican student enrolments in Australia
Government to government relationship
Study inAustralia Exhibition Participation
Tourism services Mexico-Australia
Information and Communications Technology
Investment
Issues in the Bilateral Economic Relationship
Awareness and Distance
Tariff Differentials
Table 2: Key tariff barriers to Australian agricultural exports to Mexico
Analysis of Mexico’s Trade and Investment Liberalisation Process
Non-tariff measures
Sanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Government Procurement
Mexico
Table 3: Value of GP thresholds applying to FTA partners (US$)
Table 4: Transitional set-aside percentages for PEMEX, CFE and
public works
Australia

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Chapter Three – Enhancing the Relationship
Encouraging Commercial Promotion CollaborationTechnical cooperation and collaboration
Government to government
Private sector
Education institutions
Options for improved cooperation
The FTA Option
An FTA as an incentive for cooperation
Issues and obstacles

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Chapter Four – Private Sector Perspectives
National Council of Agriculture (CNA)
Confederation of Industrial Chambers (CONCAMIN)

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Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology
(COMCE) and the Commercial Association of Australia, New Zealand and Mexico
(ACANZMEX)
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) – Submission
Overview of Australian Mineral and Metals Exports to Mexico
Mining Investment into Mexico – Strong Opportunities Exist
General Benefits of strengthenedAustralia-Mexico economic relations
The National Farmers’ Federation – Submission

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Chapter Five – Academic Perspectives
How Closer Economic Relations with Mexico would fit into the Wider
Pattern of Regional Integration
Professor Andrew Stoler, University of Adelaide
Professor Alejandro Elizondo, Universidad Anáhuac

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Chapter Six – Conclusions and ObservationsCurrent shape of the bilateral relationship
Limitations in the bilateral relationship
Options for the future

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Annex A - Australia/Mexico trade and investment statistical issues
Introduction
Merchandise trade statistics
Bilateral reconciliation of merchandise trade data
Outcome of the bilateral reconciliation analysis
Services trade statistics
International investmentstatistics

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Annex B – Summary statistics on Australia/Mexico trade and investment based on
agreed JEG methodology
Table B1: Summary of Australia/Mexico Trade Based on Agreed Methodology
Table B2: Australia’s Top 20 Merchandise Exports to Mexico
Table B3: Australia’s Top 20 Merchandise Imports from Mexico
Table B4: Australia’s Exports of Services to Mexico
Table B5:Australia’s Imports of Services from Mexico
Table B6: Australia’s Investment Relationship with Mexico

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Executive Summary
Australia and Mexico signed a Trade and Investment Agreement in 1994. This provided
for the establishment of the Australia-Mexico Commission on Trade and Investment (also
known as the Joint Trade and Investment Commission...