Australia
Regulation of postal services in a changing market environment: Lessons from Australia and elsewhere
The digital revolution and the exponential growth of the Internet have led to radical changes in the ways in which countries conduct their commerce communicate and store information. Coupled with the digital revolution the last several decades have also seen a fundamental rethink of the role of the state in the economy. Broadly the past reliance in many countries on state control and regulation has given way to a greater emphasis on competition trade openness and market forces.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Australia, 11 and 13 March 2020.
This eighth Trade Policy Review of Australia has allowed us to track and acknowledge significant developments in the economic trade and investment regime of Australia over the past five years. I would like to thank especially the head of the Australian delegation Mr. George Mina First Assistant Secretary Office of Trade Negotiations at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and his Canberra-based colleagues who made a very long journey to participate in this review under exceptional circumstances as well as our discussant Ambassador Julian Braithwaite Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom for his valuable remarks and insights. My gratitude is also extended to the WTO Members that provided advance written questions and approximately 40 delegations for their formal statements that allowed us to conduct the proceedings as a “virtual review”.