Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The advice that I have been given is that the lesser duty rule provisions effectively give Australian industry an advantage in cases where a foreign country fails to properly notify the WTO of all its current subsidy programs. In summary, that provision is only triggered when the foreign country has not notified the WTO in the four years preceding the investigation. The amendments, I understand, seek to redraft the provision to make this clearer. May I indicate that the government will not be opposing the amendment.

The CHAIRMAN: There are two questions that I need to put with respect to these four amendments. The first question is that items (1), (8), (9) and (13) of schedule 1 stand as printed.

Question negatived.

The CHAIRMAN: The next question is that amendment (4) on sheet 7701 be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The CHAIRMAN: That deals with the consequential amendments. The question now is that these bills, as amended, be agreed to.

Bills, as amended, agreed to.

Bills reported with amendments; report adopted.