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The gross value of Australia's agriculture industry in 2001/2002 was A$38.4 billion with 65% allocated to exports. The major exports markets are South East Asia, Japan, USA, and the EU. Products include wool, beef, wheat, cotton, sugar, and wine. For Australia there have been significant changes over time in markets and production arrangements in the international arena. This is also true of the domestic market especially in the area of meat products. Australians, once dominant red meat eaters, have now ‘gone chicken.’ The total yearly consumption of meats averages around 110 kg per person. Beef up until recent years has always been the dominant player. However, in the last 30 years chicken consumption has risen from being a marginal food item to being a product that is expected to eclipse beef consumption in the very near future. This paper explores the trends and examines the changes as they are reflected by the behaviour of consumers and market chain drivers. The paper provides suggestions that could he gainfully employed at the consumer behaviour levels for other meat producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a diplomatic reflection based on a long connection with Australia and Australians and a posting to Canberra as Japanese ambassador (1998-2001). Key issues that have caused tension in the relationship and the process towards the development of mature bilateral relations are discussed. Finally, the paper argues that the bilateral relationship will continue to develop and prosper and that this is in the interests of both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) has become an integral part of Australia's current trade policy. Australia has signed FTAs with Singapore, Thailand and the US. Possibilities for similar agreements with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, and Japan are being explored. This paper examines the effects of FTAs on the Australian economy and on the trading partners, drawing lessons from simulations of a number of free trade agreements. The simulations are undertaken using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model. By simulating the GTAP multi-country computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, the paper provides quantitative evidence concerning the welfare impact of FTAs with special reference to trade creation and trade diversion. Examining responses of various production sectors identifies the structural changes that may take place in the economy over the long run. The findings may shed light on the debate over the potential incentives to participate in multilateral trade liberalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the post-war period Australian Prime Ministers have played a proactive role in formulating foreign policy towards Japan. This paper explores the role of executive leadership towards Japan and its impact on the bilateral relationship. The Howard period and current Rudd-led initiatives on whaling, nuclear disarmament, climate change and regional architecture are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the evolving Australia--Japan bilateral relationship. Key issues discussed include the `drift' and `neglect' in bilateral relations in the 1990s, the current state of the economic relationship, the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements and future directions. A central theme is the importance of bilateral ties for both countries and that shared visions such as building regional cooperation through APEC might be compromised by the proposed Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the manner in which Australian policy in matters of international trade is set. The author finds a number of puzzling features. First is the lack of detailed scrutiny given to the policy mechanisms employed by the countries of North-East Asia which have recently been so outstandingly successful in furthering their international trade and economic interests. There can be no valid reason for failing to give close attention to the means whereby others have succeeded. Second is the apparent separation in Australia, unlike Japan, between international trade policy and other, broader economic objectives such as the identification and support of new high value industries with global export potential. If we lack national objectives of this latter kind it is legitimate to ask whether this lack is for the best. Third is the extent to which policy appears to assume, without more ado, that through the liberation of market forces we shall largely resolve our international competitive and trade problems. This is a truly heroic assumption which should be clearly recognised for what it is. Fourth and perhaps most puzzling of all is the extraordinarily low level of community debate, even of interest group debate, over precisely where our 1990s international trade and economic development interests lie. If the current GATT round should largely fail, which is quite likely, clear thinking about where our best interests lie will suddenly become urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article applies an evolutionary economic geography perspective to the problem of explaining value chain restructuring in the Australia–Japan beef trade. In the late 1980s, Japanese investors constructed captive governance arrangements to coordinate the production of high-value beef for the Japanese market. Two decades later, this trade has come to be structured around a quite different set of principles. This is the result of a path-dependent, co-evolution of firm strategies and the institutional environment. It has involved (i) rising and then declining per capita beef consumption in Japan; (ii) the impacts of Japanese retail consolidation on competitive advantage within the beef trade; (iii) the ability of Australian and US beef firms to undertake process upgrading and (iv) the exogenous shock of a BSE outbreak in the USA in 2003. These insights have relevance for a broader appreciation of the changing incorporation of Japanese food demand within global agri-food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article examines the motivation that moved Japan to implement free trade agreements with Australia and Switzerland. Under discussion are international and domestic factors that led to the decision. It is noted that in the era following the Second World War trade has been achieved on a multilateral basis under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and through the World Trade Organization. A number of topics are addressed including the role played by Australia as a strategic ally and a supplier of raw materials to Japan, and Switzerland's position as Japan's ally on the World Trade Organization.

Agricultural trade policy is a branch of Japanese trade policy where domestic political considerations have traditionally held sway. Recent trends, however, suggest that Japanese policy on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), including the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia, is being directly influenced by the government's foreign policy goals. Despite Australia's standing as a major agricultural exporter that potentially threatens Japan's highly protected agricultural sector, the Koizumi and Abe administrations attached higher priority to several important foreign policy ambitions in agreeing to begin negotiations on an FTA with Australia. These goals were: exercising economic and trade leadership and influence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing political relations with long-standing trade partners, and ensuring energy and resource security. Sino-Japanese competition figured as a significant factor in shaping all these objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the second half of the 1980s, Japan was at the height of its economic power, a `rich nation' again, with the `bubble' yet to burst. Trade issues loomed large in the Australia-Japan relationship, which at that time also included a developing security dialogue, investment schemes of different kinds, proposals for managed migration of elderly Japanese to Australia and MITI's proposal for a `Multi-Function Polis' (MFP)--all made more touchy in Australia by a perceived wave of Japanese property acquisitions. As Japan seeks to finally emerge from its post-bubble slump, and to lay the foundations to cope with its declining population, Australia and Japan face three common issues of great concern--the role of Free Trade Agreements in global trade liberalisation; security matters, including terrorism, North Korea and Japan `s `peace constitution'; and relations with a more radical and active United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaggregated trade data are used to examine changing trade patterns for five developed economic regions: the USA, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Japan. This study covers the 1980-1997 time period, during which international trade for most goods faced less border protection. Changing trade patterns are found for the USA, Japan, and the EU, while persistent trade patterns are observed for Australia and Canada. Classifying goods into four groups, trade patterns found in manufactured goods were the most dynamic, and trade in bulk agricultural goods the most persistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical examination of the perceived differences in offer quality between Western Australian rock lobster exporters and their respective Japanese importers reveals that consistent quality, a willingness to provide market information and a willingness to meet importers" immediate needs were the most important variables influencing an importer's decision to purchase. While both importers and exporters agreed that delivering consistent quality was the most important variable, exporters ranked competitive price much higher than importers. This suggests that Western Australian exporters may benefit from adding greater value to their product offer by providing continuous product support, timely market information and responding better to importers' immediate needs, rather than attempting to compete on price against lower cost producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]