Australia-India Trade Deal Takes Effect

The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (see 2212010004) took effect Dec. 29, allowing Australian exporters to benefit this week from an initial round of tariff cuts eliminating duties on more than 85% of exports to India, Australia’s trade ministry said. A second round of tariff cuts will take effect Jan. 1, while tariffs on certain agricultural goods and other items will be phased down to zero within six years. The trade ministry said a “serious window of opportunity has opened for our exporters to move into” India’s market “ahead many of our key competitors.”