FED: Joint statement a step toward global e commerce: Alston

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1998
FED: Joint statement a step toward global e commerce: Alston

CANBERRA, Dec 1 AAP - The Australia-United States joint statement on electronic commerce
was an important first step toward global cooperation on e-commerce and other information
economy issues, Information Technology Minister Richard Alston said today.

Prime Minister John Howard and US President Bill Clinton today announced a joint approach
to accelerate the growth of the information economy and electronic commerce.

"The joint statement is not the end but the beginning of this joint initiative," Senator
Alston said in a statement.

"The two countries will soon establish an Australia-US E-Commerce Forum and we will step up
efforts to ensure that the benefits of Australias cooperation with the US is shared more
broadly.

"Agreement between these two leading world players will dramatically assist efforts to
achieve regional and then global cooperation."

Key policy principles were private sector leadership, minimal government intervention and
self-regulation where possible.

The joint statement said e-commerce should be fostered by reducing trade-distorting
government intervention and giving enterprises greater access to the global marketplace.

Governments should work towards a global framework supporting recognition and enforcement
of electronic transactions and electronic signatures or other authentication.

But opposition IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy said it was not a negotiated bilateral agreement
but simply the US imposing its preferred position on Australia.

She said Mr Howard neglected referring to the impact of a GST on e-commerce, and suggested
Australians may use e-commerce to avoid tax if a GST made some goods more expensive.

AAP fh/mfh/kr

KEYWORD: US AUST ALSTON

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