Deepening economic and defence ties with Japan

Australian PM Tony Abbott and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Pic: News Corp Australia

From Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Today, Japanese Prime Minister Abe and I signed an historic free trade agreement between Japan and Australia.

Australia owes much of its economic prosperity to our trade and investment with Japan over the last 50 years.

Japan is our third largest source of foreign investment; it was our largest trading partner for more than 40 years and Australian resources such as coal and iron-ore have helped Japan become an industrial powerhouse.

The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) was finalised during my visit to Japan earlier this year and today’s signing brings us another step closer to realisation of the benefits of the Agreement for Australian and Japanese consumers, families and businesses.

This is the first free trade agreement that Japan has made with a major developed economy.

To read the full statement on the Japan-Australia FTA, visit http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-07-08/deepening-economic-and-defence-ties-japan.

Singapore and Australia entered into a free trade agreement in 2003. Singapore is Australia's fourth largest two-way trading partner. To find out more about the Singapore-Australia FTA, visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/australia_singapore_agreement.html.