Free Trade

[Thunder Kiss]

Just wondering what the free trade agreement will mean for Australian Corvette enthusiasts?
How much cheaper will these be:
a:  A new Vette?
b:  A used Vette?
c:  New/used parts?

[peter vicary C5]

will the trade agreement make any difference either way?

[Nik]

I was working security at the Embassy when most of the FTA people were sorting it out with the Americans.

Of what I recall, tarriffs and import taxes will be phased out over the next ten years. This is to protect Australian economies and votes, as opposed to imeediately. wheather or not this is a good thing is all a point of view I guess.

The FTA will be enacted either jan 1 next year or the start of this financial year. I can't quite remember.

But don't expect an impact on things you can buy for a while yet :(

I'd expect in about 10 years though the car market will remain largely the same... As we saw with the GST, tax lowering only raised the profit margin for business in many cases, not lowered the cost.

[c5vette]

There is also a fine print, No cars are to be exported into Australia Left Hand drive!!! so I do not know how that works?
Maybe converters will convert them before shipping?

[peter vicary C5]

does that left hand drive rule apply to all cars shipped to aust. eg, new, used, 1 imported by a private buyer or is that rule for a manufacturer exporting to australia ?

[Nik]

id say imported for commercial sale.

[Panther]

You will not see any change to the cost of cars or parts, that is not covered in agreement that I can find
Kim

[Nik]

i believe all tarrifs between the countries will be removed...

we will see of course.