Australia / USA Free Trade Agreement

Australian businesses will gain expanded access to the $200 billion United States government procurement market when the Australia / United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) comes into force on 1 January 2005.

Australia’s trade facilitation service – Austrade - with partners from industry and federal and state governments, has been conducting a series of seminars to assist Australian businesses identify and secure opportunities in the vast US government market.

Austrade estimates the US federal budget for technology procurement alone reached nearly US$60 billion in 2004 with more than half this amount being spent on homeland security.

Just as Australian exporters need to understand the challenges involved in doing business with US government agencies, including complex channels to market, strong competition and long sales cycles, so too will US companies need guidance in accessing the numerous opportunities now open to them in Australia.

The Australian government, through Austrade is assisting Australian ICT and defence suppliers with advice on contacts, US regulatory procedures, registering as a government supplier, and the best ways of presenting their products to US government buyers.

Agar Carlyon is set up with an office in Sydney and colleagues in the US to assist companies in accessing the Australian market.

As is well known, Australian companies have a good track record of developing innovative technology solutions and security products which have an excellent chance of interesting US government buyers. Agar Carlyon suggests that US companies look at the joint venture opportunities that could now be available.

For further information on the Free Trade Agreement or any other aspect of accessing the Australian market, please email me.

David
editor@agarcarlyon.com