Joint committee to address price of IT products

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties is convening today to explore issues including the price of IT products in Australia.

At the public hearings, the committee is addressing matters including amending Australia’s concessions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Among the proposed amendments being considered by the 16-member committee are implementing the ministerial declaration for the expansion of trade in IT products.

Committee chair Stewart Robert MP said amended import and export agreements could help reduce the notorious ‘Australia tax’ — the high premiums local consumers pay for software and hardware compared to some other international markets.

“By further liberalising international trade in information technology products, the recently negotiated amendments to the schedule of concessions will put downward pressure on the price consumers pay for some IT products in Australia, with flow-on effects up and down the supply chain,” he said.

The proposed treaty was tabled on 31 August.

Image courtesy of Hector Garcia under CC