ITS Global - Highlights

New ITS Global report - Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia: A critique of the Report by ClimateWorks Australia

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 30/06/2010

This report critiques a plan to cut Australian greenhouse gas emissions published by ClimateWorks Australia in March 2010. Its plan was based on an abatement cost curve for Australia developed by McKinsey & Company. The ITS Global critique demonstrates that the plan has overestimated the benefits and underestimated the costs of abatement. Read the full report by ITS Global here.

Australia to ease investment rules after China saga

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 4/08/2009

Reuters publishes commentary by ITS Global Chief Economist, Jeff Rae, on Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan�s announcement of an easing of foreign-investment rules:

Jeff Rae, chief economist with investment consultancy ITS Global, welcomed the reforms but said the screening process still lacked transparency and remained prone to political controversy. 'They (the reforms) would not have taken the heat out of any of the Chinese investments,' Rae said.

Read the full article here.

Principal of ITS Global appears on SBS World News Australia

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 20/07/2009

SBS broadcasts commentary by the Principal of ITS Global, Alan Oxley, on detention of foreigners:

"Whenever there's a downturn in a market, or things change, it's not unusual to take recourse against foreigners and foreign contracts. Often it's more difficult for the foreigner take legal recourse compared to, say, a business partner in the country concerned."

Read the full transcript here.

'Buy Aussie' to set state on road to financial ruin

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 16/06/2009

The Principal of ITS Global, Alan Oxley, is quoted in a piece by the Asia-Pacific editor of The Australian, Rowan Callick:

Alan Oxley, who was Australia's ambassador to the World Trade Organisation's predecessor and is now managing director of trade consultancy ITS Global, asked: "Why is Australia's least competitive, lowest-growth state doing this?

"Even before the downturn, NSW was our weakest performing economy. It is the state that can least afford to implement even worse policies. It should be driving harder in the other direction. This will foster businesses which are not globally competitive, which is not a way to ensure NSW gains its share of jobs when the economy picks up.�

� Mr Oxley warned that the NSW Labor government may trigger a trade dispute with the US by broadening exemptions from the liberalising clauses of FTAs, from small businesses employing 200 people or fewer, as in the US agreement, to cover firms with up to 500 staff.

Read the full article here.

Don't kill exports

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 9/06/2009

An opinion piece by ITS Global Principal Alan Oxley featured in the Australian:

THE better than expected recent economic performance is significantly attributable to our strong export performance. Yet pressure is growing to restrict trade. Read the full article here.

New ITS Global report � �Foreign investment in Australia � China and Common Sense�

Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 27/05/2009

Australia has been built not just on the contribution of migrants, but on foreign investment.

Every major phase of Australia�s industrial and economic development has been driven by foreign capital used to supplement savings by Australians. Chinese investment in mineral development is the next chapter in this story.

With the current global economic downturn and the country effectively in recession, the best way out is to encourage investment and make the best use of productive resources. Turning away foreign capital in the current climate is nonsensical.

It is in Australia�s national interest to welcome Chinese investment and to make the best use of productive resources in tough economic times.

This report reviews the importance and history of foreign investment in Australia and examines the importance to both Australia and China of the Chinalco investment in Rio Tinto proceeding.

Read the full report here.

Protectionism And Our Forests

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 22/04/2009

An opinion piece by ITS Global Principal Alan Oxley featured in Forbes:

Good intentions don't automatically lead to good results, and protecting the environment is no exception. In spite of pledges made to reject protectionist trade restrictions at the G-20 summit just a few weeks ago, several Western nations are trying to enact trade bans on timber and forest products in the name of environmental protection. Read the full article here.

Supporting Australia�s free trade agreements with North Asian partners

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 27/02/2009

ITS Global has established Asia Business Focus (www.asiabusinessfocus.com), a business coalition which seeks a positive result for Australian business from the Australia-China, Australia-Japan and Australia-South Korea FTAs. The group's activities include advocacy, research and representation. Asia Business Focus replaced the China Business Focus group in February 2009.

Supporting Australia�s free trade agreements with North Asian partners

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 27/02/2009

Inconsistencies in the treatment of foreign investment in Australia�s FTAs

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 22/02/2009

Kristen Bondietti prepared a paper for the Institute of Public Affairs, published by the Australian APEC Study Centre, on the inconsistent treatment of foreign investment in Australia�s five bilateral free trade agreements; New Zealand (CER), Thailand, Singapore, Chile and the United States. The paper will be forthcoming in a book.

Independent peer review: Malaysia�s progress toward APEC�s trade and investment goals

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 17/02/2009

Principal Consultant Kristen Bondietti and Mr Jaime Garcia from ConsultAndes, Peru, recently completed an independent comprehensive report on Malaysia�s progress toward APEC�s trade and investment goals for the period 2005 - 2008. The report was prepared as part of the APEC Peer Review process, where APEC country Individual Action Plans (IAP) toward the APEC Bogor Goals are reviewed by independent experts and shared among APEC countries and the broader public. The report was presented at the APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Singapore in February.

Independent Peer Review: Malaysia�s progress toward APEC�s trade and investment goals

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 17/02/2009

Inconsistencies in the treatment of foreign investment in Australia�s FTAs

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 12/02/2009

PNG timber operator achieves independent legality verification

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 2/12/2008

Saban Enterprises Limited became the first forestry company in Papua New Guinea to achieve third-party legality verification. Saban�s timber harvesting and sawmill operations were successfully audited by SGS � the world�s leading inspection and verification company � under its Timber Legality & Traceability Verification (TLTV) programme. The audit confirmed that Saban complies with relevant PNG laws and regulations, and that its products are not being mixed with products from non-verified forests. ITS Global provided technical support to the project, which was funded co-funded by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

Foreign Direct Investment in Australia � the increasing cost of regulation

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 9/09/2008

The debate over foreign investment in Australia by State Owned Enterprises and Sovereign Wealth Funds, particularly from China, has lead to adjustments to the Governments� foreign investment controls. These are likely to further restrict investment and economic growth in Australia. The controls inherited by the Rudd Government already cost Australia at least $5.5 billion a year or 0.6 percent of GDP. Click here for a PDF version of the report. Click here for an MS Word version of the report.

Australia-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement Feasibility Study

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 8/05/2008

ITS Global, in conjunction with the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash University, has recently completed the Economic Feasibility Study for the Australian Government on a possible Australia/Republic of Korea FTA. The study reveals an FTA could offer significant benefits for both Australia and the ROK. Click here for a copy of the executive summary of the study or refer to the DFAT website.

In the media: Emissions cuts must be realistic

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 22/02/2008

An opinion piece by ITS Global principal Alan Oxley featured in The Australian newspaper:

WITH less than two years to implement an emissions trading system, a leading point of interest in the business community is how the Rudd Government will keep the economy competitive under the scheme, as the aim is to increase the cost of energy. Read the full commentary here.

In the media: Europe climate threat is hot air

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 1/02/2008

An opinion piece by ITS Global principal Alan Oxley featured in The Weekly Times newspaper:

JOSE Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Council and former prime minister of Portugal, dropped a policy bomb last week. He threatened climate trade war. Europe plans to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by a further 20 per cent by 2020. It would restrict imports from countries that did not do the same thing, specifically the US and China. He called the trade problem the nuclear bomb of the climate change debate. Read the full commentary here.

How Europe misread the Bali debate

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 22/12/2007

The Bali climate change meeting showed most countries do not favour urgent action on climate. Yet in the lead-up to the meeting, the media was full of stories about the need for such action. Who got it wrong? Alan Oxley's opinion piece in the Bangkok Post points the finger at the EU. Read the full article here.

In the media: Alan Oxley at VicForests

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 23/10/2007

ITS Global Principal Alan Oxley's speech at the VicForests symposium was reported in The Age newspaper. Agribusiness reporter Phillip Hopkins quoted on Oxley's views on how an ALP government should respond to forestry and climate change. Read the full report here.

Windows on Wood

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 16/10/2007

ITS Global Principal Alan Oxley was the keynote speaker at the VicForests Symposium. Mr Oxley delivered a speech on the growth potential of the forestry industry in a policy environment dominated by climate change. Read the full speech here.

In the media: "The Greens simply don't want any forestry in Tasmania"

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 5/10/2007

An opinion piece by ITS Global Senior Consultant Khalil Hegarty on the Crikey website:

The failure to stop the Bell Bay Pulp Mill is a big loss for the Greens � and wholly deserved. Bob Brown�s comments on the Mill's approval - "this environmentally evil company will continue to log 200,000 hectares"� show why. Note the verb "continue". The Mill's operation will not alter the existing rules on forestry in Tasmania � it will work within them. Read the full commentary here.

In the media: �Time to shelve the Doha Round�

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 11/09/2007

An opinion piece by ITS Global principal Alan Oxley featured in The Weekly Times newspaper:

Pascal Lamy, the WTO�s Director General declared at the APEC Summit in Sydney that the Doha Round of trade negotiations can be completed this year. The APEC Leaders supported Lamy with a call to complete the Doha Round. This call will be as ineffective as the nearly identical calls made at four previous summits. Read the full article here

In the media: "Different tracks to the same goal"

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 6/09/2007

An opinion piece by ITS Global Principal Alan Oxley in The Australian newspaper:

As the world's leading economies decided at the G8 summit in June that Kyoto has to be replaced, any Australian prime minister should have felt duty-bound to encourage APEC leaders to lead the effort to develop a fresh approach. No global solution can be effective without the support of APEC economies. Read the full article here.

Developing countries - Advancing or Arresting Development in the Doha Round

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 15/03/2007

Developing countries with a relatively insignificant share of global trade are playing a significant role in guiding the Doha Round but are they advancing or arresting development? A report by Kristen Osborne was prepared for the Australian APEC Study Centre and released at the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong. The paper can be accessed at the Australian APEC Study Centre website.

WTO Hong Kong - make trade free

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 15/03/2007

As Chairman of WorldGrowth, Alan Oxley attended the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong in December 2005. His report, "Make Trade Free - How the Doha Round can reduce poverty", explains why trade needs to be made free". Click here for the report.

Improving policy analysis and policy making in international trade in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 15/03/2007

In conjunction with Cardno ACIL, ITS Global is managing a three-year AusAID funded program to build trade policy and research capacity in WTO and regional free trade agreements in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Trade Analysis and Reform Project (TARP) is aimed at enhancing the benefits to each country of its engagement with the WTO.

Climate Change Issues

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 26/10/2006

ITS Global's report on "Climate Change- Effective strategies for Asia: The beginning of a rational response" aims to examine options for key Asian Pacific nations to address climate change. The full report is available on the World Growth website.

International Trade Review for the pork industry

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 15/06/2006

ITS Global was asked to contribute to a key plank of the Australian pork industry�s restructuring plan. The contributing report enabled the industry to engage and educate Government and stakeholders on the trade interests of the pigmeat industry in bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations; opportunities where changes in regulation are likely to create market access opportunities for Australian pork; and situations where the risk of adverse changes in regulation appears likely to restrict significant markets for Australian pigmeat.

Bioprospecting and the CBD

Thu, 04 May 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 5/05/2006

Consultants have undertaken analyses of bioprospecting and assessed the evidence for �biopiracy� as part of work undertaken for a major US private sector client to address negotiations in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity for a legally binding regime to govern access to and benefit sharing from the genetic resources of developing countries. This included an analysis of the evidence for biopiracy and arrangements in various developing countries to govern bioprospecting. This study, which is available on the website of the Australian APEC Study Centre, also proposed a market-based alternative based on property rights to engage in bioprospecting as an alternative model.

Forestry sustainability in PNG

Thu, 04 May 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 5/05/2006

ITS Global consultants have recently concluded work for a client on the environmental sustainability and economic significance of the forestry industry in Pacific region.

Review of leading issues in trade and investment in minerals between Australia and India

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 8/03/2006

For the Australian minerals industry, ITS Global identified barriers to trade in goods, services and investment between India and Australia, focusing on Australian outwards trade and investment in the minerals industry.

Australian wool in China

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:00:01 GMT

Date: 01/01/2007

ITS Global consultants have been working with the wool industry since early 2005 to analyse and promote the mutual benefits available from liberalisation in the industry. This has involved analysing trade barriers and valuing the impact of these barriers, joint industry activities, as awell as an extended programme of advocacy both in Australia and China.