Memo to Coalition: FTAs are not “free trade”

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The Coalition’s Dave Sharma – chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and the member for Wentworth – has penned a spurious article spruiking the latest batch of so-called Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):

In these times of growing global economic uncertainty and mounting trade tensions, countries such as Australia need to stand up for the principle of free trade and shore up the foundations of the global trading system…

This is why it is important for Australia to stand up for the global trading system and play our part to maintain and improve its liberal and open character.

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.