Australia Entertainment
Department of State Washington File: U.S. Jazz Artists Visit India with AIDS-Awareness Message
(State Department, entertainment companies jointly sponsor tour) (540) ... The tour is a joint project of Black Entertainment Television (BET), MTV-India and the U.S. Department of State. ... Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed the partnership with the performers and entertainment companies, and the contribution it is expected to make in highlighting the importance of fighting HIV/AIDS. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S. Command in Korea Gets Tough on Demand Side of Prostitution
Perhaps the most important partner in the Command's combined efforts has been the Republic of Korea Government, and its diplomatic corps and law enforcement agencies to help to address the worldwide problem of human trafficking. The close cooperation between the U.S. Embassy Seoul and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has already resulted in refined visa policies that are targeted at closing loopholes that have been exploited by human traffickers in the past. A case in point is the Republic of Korea Government's most recent initiative to cease issuing "E-6 Entertainment Visas" to dancers who intend to work in entertainment establishments near U.S. military installations. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: "Landmark" U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Hailed
The U.S.-Australia FTA is the first to include non-tariff market access provisions to address issues in the pharmaceutical sector. Recognizing the sensitivity of this issue, we drew on studies prepared by the Australian government to propose changes that would improve transparency and the regulatory procedures for listing new drugs in Australia. Under the FTA, the United States and Australia agreed to common principles on facilitating high quality health care and continued improvements in public health, including through government support for research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. We also agreed to establish a Medicines Working Group to discuss emerging health policy issues. Australia committed to specific steps to improve the transparency, accountability and promptness of the listing process, including establishment of an independent review of listing decisions. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Media Executives to Expand Campaign Against AIDS
-- Ongoing extensive commitments by MTV Networks and Black Entertainment Television, as part of Viacom's KNOW HIV/AIDS campaign -- a three-year, $600 million global effort on HIV/AIDS with the Kaiser Family Foundation. ... At a meeting in Cannes, France, convened April 12 by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, media leaders reported on accomplishments in 2004, including the launch of new public education campaigns in Russia and India, and plans among media programmers from many major companies to promote more HIV messaging in entertainment programming. ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Australia is a destination country for women from Southeast Asia, South Korea, and the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) who are trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Some of these women travel to Australia voluntarily to work in both legal and illegal brothels but are deceived or coerced into debt bondage or sexual servitude. The Government of Australia fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The Commonwealth’s Action Plan to Eradicate Trafficking in Persons provided substantial financial and personnel resources to combat the problem both domestically and internationally. Over the last year, the government further refined its anti-trafficking program. In 2004, the government made significant and greater efforts to combat trafficking, including develop ... [Read More]
Journalist and Media Visas (I-Visas)
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Department of State Washington File: Fact Sheet: USTR Issues Fact Sheet on U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement
-- Because Australian tariffs are much higher than U.S. average tariffs, American firms today pay 10 times as much in total annual import tariffs to Australia as the U.S. collects from Australian imports. The U.S.-Australia FTA will eliminate this disparity. ... -- Scope of obligations for Australia extends to environmental laws at the level of the states and territories. Much of the significant environmental protection in Australia takes place at the state and territory level. ... [Read More]
U.S. Department of State - Washington Hyper File
(State Department, entertainment companies jointly sponsor tour) (540) ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S., Australia Complete Historic Free Trade Agreement
Australia is a major trade and investment partner of the United States, and in 2002 was America's 13th largest export market for goods, and the 9th largest if the European Union countries are considered as one destination. Two-way annual goods and services trade is approximately $28 billion, and two-way foreign direct investment is $60 billion. Australia purchases more goods from the United States than from any other country, and the U.S. enjoys a bilateral goods and services trade surplus of $9 billion. Australia is a key export market for important U.S. manufacturing sectors such as aircraft, autos and auto parts, machinery, computers and electronic products, chemicals, and wood and paper products. Each of the fifty U.S. states exports to Australia, and Australia is among the top 25 export destinations for 48 of the 50 states. The leading states exporting to Australia are Washington, California, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Trade Pact a Milestone in U.S.-Australia Relations, Bush Says
The total annual two-way trade in American and Australian goods and services stands at $28 billion. Australia is America's 10th largest export market. Our trade with Australia is important to every American. It is vital to our economy. The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a recognition of that importance and a commitment by both our nations to work in partnership for common prosperity. This agreement will immediately eliminate duties on 99 percent of all U.S.-manufactured exports to Australia. That is the largest immediate reduction of tariffs on manufactured goods ever achieved in an American free trade agreement. ... [Read More]
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