Commonwealth of Australia Trade Agreement

[Jamie]

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

TRADE AGREEMENT

between the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland,

and

Commonwealth of Australia

[ December, 1998 ]​

Declaration
This Trade Agreement (the “Agreement” or; “Trade Agreement”; “Treaty”) states the terms and conditions that govern the contractual agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom who agrees to be bound by the agreement.

Article I, Term
This agreement shall commence December 1998 and will continue indefinitely. Either party may terminate the agreement for any reason with three (3) months written notice to the other signatory.

Article II, Factors
The factors stated for the need of Australian-British Trade Agreement are as follows:

(a) The setting up and development of Australian-British trade cooperation and working consistently throughout.
(b) To support and venture within the boundaries of said agreement(s).​

The following are the official articles that will be followed as the official agreement:

(a) None of the stated articles are to be construed as contravening and any clauses of the agreement that one of the parties disagrees with will be dealt with appropriately via diplomatic means at the time an amendment or dispute is raised.

(b) The objective of this agreement is to ensure that great advantage is obtained from the combined personnel and facilities of both parties.

(c) Each party agrees to liaison within the signatories territory to maintain cooperation throughout the agreements’ life.

(d) Signatories agree to lower current tariff charges from their respective amounts to an importation tax of 10%.

(e) Participating countries are committed to the shared security of any trade routes between both states.

(f) The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels will be facilitated at Diego Garcia for the purpose of re-supplying on deployment under the following constraints:

i. There will be a fixed cost of 25,000,000.00 dollars per visit which is payable upon arrival. This will be transferred to the United Kingdom.

ii. No prior permission is required if a routine patrol or the operation does not impact political boundaries such as humanitarian aid; other deployments that may affect allegiances must be agreed upon separately.

iii. Visits to Diego Garcia are for re-supply only which will be delivered by British Personnel. Australian Personnel must remain on their vessels as they are not permitted to depart their ships.​

Article III, Amendments
Amendments of the agreement must be requested in writing to the other party, both parties must agree for the changes to be applied to be valid.

Article IV, Applicable Law
This Trade Agreement and the interpretation of its terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Australia and the United Kingdom. This is subject to exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in Australia and the United Kingdom.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done in two originals, December 1998.

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Andrew Evans Jamie

For the Commonwealth of Australia:
Prime Minister of Australia
John Howard JamieA

Published by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
Point of Contact
Address: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1
Telephone: 03700 00 22 44
© Crown Copyright​