Australia used to have very high protection rates for its manufacturing industries. Historically tariff quotas on motor vehicles meant that Australian car prices were double the prices for equivalents overseas.
Many other manufactured goods were sold at multiples of the prices in overseas markets. Australia like many other countries imposed very high tariffs on most imported consumer goods.
The end of high tariffs under the Hawke/Keating Government meant that, in principle, Australians now pay pretty well the world market price for most goods.
Click download to read the full article.
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Project 2025, the policy substance behind Trump’s showmanship, reveals a radical plan to reshape the world
In April 2022, conservative American think tank the Heritage Foundation, working with a broad coalition of 50 conservative organisations, launched Project 2025: a plan for the next conservative president of the United States.
AUSFTA: A bad deal then. Even worse now.
Australian consumers paid a high price for John Howard’s determination to sign a ‘Free Trade Agreement’ with the US.
2024 is Election Year
While we could be forgiven for thinking 2024 will be all about American democracy, this year is in fact a big one for democracies across the world, writes Dr Emma Shortis.