This paper presents the findings of a new survey by the Commission on what motivates Australian firms to operate or relocate their headquarters offshore, and the implications for Australia. The Commission found that the establishment by Australian firms of operations overseas typically...

Rules of origin arrangements under the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER) were referred to the Commission for examination and report by May 2004. The request stemmed from concerns that Australian and New Zealand firms were having difficulty achieving the...

On 26 June 1998 the Treasurer referred the question of whether safeguard action is warranted against imports of meat of swine, frozen, falling within tariff sub-heading 0203.29 of the Australian Customs Tariff. The Productivity Commission is to report within 140 days (or earlier) and is to hold...

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...

In its latest annual report, of which this is an extract, the Productivity Commission responds to current misconceptions about globalisation and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Commission notes that, among other trends, there has been a five-fold increase in average per capita income...

On 12 December 1997 the Treasurer referred international air services arrangements to the Industry Commission for inquiry and report within nine months. The Commission was asked to report on the arrangements for negotiating entitlements under air services agreements and the process of allocating...

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...