The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has adopted a reference from the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Honourable Simon Birmingham, to undertake a further review of the Peru Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) in addition to its August 2018 report on the agreement. The Committee has agreed to report by 21 November 2018.

JSCOT will consider:

• ongoing concerns over the increasing complexity created by the number of trade agreements, particularly multiple agreements with the same partner; and
• the specific inclusion and operation of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions in recently concluded trade agreements.

The Committee has invited interested persons and organisations to make submissions by Friday 2 November. A public hearing will be held on 8 November in Melbourne.

Further information and instructions on how to make a submission can be found on the Parliament House website.