In 1999, the Commonwealth Government referred the scope for a post-2000 reduction in the general tariff to the Productivity Commission for inquiry and report within nine months. The general tariff covers only rates of 5 per cent or less, and excludes the PMV and TCF sectors. On balance, the...

This paper was one input to the Australian Government’s decision to remove tariffs on imports from the least developed countries. The Commission’s analysis suggests that removing tariffs on imports from these countries could significantly boost imports from these countries, particularly of...