AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.

Plan your response here in note form: no complete paragraphs, just dot points!
1. Introduce the question, very briefly. Something generic which just gives an intro into
the topic (trade) and the question (government, non-government). This isnt strictly
necessary, but it will help you get some momentum and start writing (rather than just
staring blankly at the page).
2. Describe the link: what is trade, how is it beneficial, why do countries trade, what is a
comparative advantage, what are barriers to trade
International trade involves the exchange of goods and services between nations. Countries trade
with each other in order to import products that they otherwise could not access, and to reduce the
cost of certain products for their consumers. Despite these benefits, there are a number of barriers to
trade; namely, tariffs, import/export taxes and quotas on products which can be exported to certain
markets.
Despite these barriers, countries export the goods they have in abundance, or can produce efficiently.
When a country can produce something more easily than other countries, it is known as a
comparative advantage. Countries generally export products they have a comparative advantage in.
Additionally, exporting goods has a positive effect on the country which is exporting them, as it grows
business in export sectors and stimulates local employment in these industries.

Australia trades with countries worldwide, with our top trading partners (in order) being Japan,the
UnitedStates,China,NewZealandandSouthKorea. The focus of our trade is on the AsiaPacific Region; however, we still export products further afield to Europe and Britain (which remains
our sixth largest trading partner). The primary focus of much of our exports are primary products
minerals (coal and iron ore), and agricultural products. Iron ores and concentrates make up 21.8% of
our export industry, followed by coal, at 12.5%. Conversely, our key imported products are personal
travel, at 7.5% of total imports, and crude petroleum, at 6.1%.

3. Identify how government affects trade with examples: ASEAN AUSTRALIA-NZ,

AUSFTA
The import and export of products such as these is facilitated by our government, through a variety of
multilateral, bilateral and free trade agreements. Trade agreements generally remove some of the
barriers to trade mentioned earlier (tariffs, quotas and taxes) and encourage trade between member
nations through giving preferential treatment to their exports. A multilateral free trade agreement
involves more than one nation, and an example of such an agreement is the ASEAN-Australia-New
Zealand Free Trade Area.
Similarly, bilateral free trade agreements involve two nations, and can be observed in Australias
agreement with the USA, AUSFTA. This agreement had the general aim of reducing trade barriers,
(particularly in agriculture between the two nations), but has been criticised for allowing the larger
United States economy take advantage of Australias smaller economy by exporting a great number of
products, while limiting Australian agricultural imports to their market.
The Australian government also makes use of regional trade agreements, particularly within the AsiaPacific region. The removal of trade certain barriers to trade between APEC member nations are one
such example of this, and trade with APEC member nations accounts for around 70% of Australias
trade.

AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.

Along with government organisations, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) also have a role to
play when considering trade, and one such example of this is the World Trade Organisation. The
WTO is a global institution that aims to promote free and fair trade between member nations, and
provides a forum for member nations to discuss trade agreements, while developing world trade.
Finally, charitable organisations such as Oxfam and World Vision have a view to the way in which
Australia should develop its trade, and this is based on the idea of fair trade. While free trade is
beneficial in terms of reducing barriers to trade, it has often been criticised for allowing larger
economies to take advantage of smaller economies, particularly with relation to the manufacture of
cheap goods, and agricultural products. Proponents of fair trade argue that trade with developing
countries should take into account working conditions of their labour force, encourage development
of sustainable industry through the payment of better sustainable prices.
Oxfam argues that international agricultural trade is unjust, forcing millions of farmers in the developing
world to live on less than $1 US dollar per day. They aim to prevent rich countries flooding the market of
poorer countries with subsidised agricultural products, to improve the prices paid to small, local farmers
for their products, and to ensure bilateral trade agreements do not undermine poorer farmers.
The fair growth of world trade can only mean economic development for all
involved. By taking advantage of governmental ability to develop trade agreements,
and keeping the idealistic aims of NGOs in mind when creating these, Australian
trade can develop in such a way that benefits both it, and the economies it trades
with.

4. Identify how non-government (charity) affects trade

5. Conclusion: reiterate (summarise) key points made in the essay with minimal detail:
not necessary in an exam condition at this level, but might buy you goodwill with
whoever is marking this response.

Other things to note:

AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.
Discursive markers: signpost your essay to sound intelligent and smug!
Paragraphs should always, no exceptions be planned at least in list form before you begin
writing.
Paragraphs (unless you are given a plan like this one) should be numbered in importance
from MOST IMPORTANT to LEAST IMPORTANT this is particularly important if you
are arguing a point.
TOPIC SENTENCES ARE ABSOLUTELY AND COMPLETELY NECESSARY TO FORM
A COHERENT AND DEVELOPED RESPONSE. Make sure you have one, and stick to it.
Language: tone = FORMAL. I cant stress this enough.
Now, plan your argument on the next sheet paragraph by paragraph!

AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.
Introductionshouldintroducethequestionwithoutusinganytypeofrhetoricalquestion.Conversational
toneiscompletelyinappropriateinanextendedresponse.
Foreachparagraph:followthestructurebelowusethequestionstoguidehowyoustructurethesentencesin
theparagraph.
Paragraphtopic:
1. Doesyourfirstsentence
introducethepointofthe
paragraph?
*Yourfirstsentenceis
yourtopicsentenceand
mustdothis.
2.

Thesentencesfollowing
thisdevelopandexplain
yourtopicsentence.
*Howcanyouexplain
yourkeypointinmore
detail?
*Isthereevidenceto
supportyourkeypoint?
*Doestheevidence
requireexplanation?
*Check:haveyouclearly
addedtoansweringthe
questionbymakingthis
point?

Paragraph topic:
1.

Doesyourfirstsentence
introducethepointofthe
paragraph?
*Yourfirstsentenceis
yourtopicsentenceand
mustdothis.

2.

Thesentencesfollowing
thisdevelopandexplain
yourtopicsentence.
*Howcanyouexplain
yourkeypointinmore
detail?
*Isthereevidenceto
supportyourkeypoint?
*Doestheevidence
requireexplanation?
*Check:haveyouclearly
addedtoansweringthe
questionbymakingthis
point?

Paragraph topic:
1.

Doesyourfirstsentence
introducethepointofthe
paragraph?
*Yourfirstsentenceis
yourtopicsentenceand
mustdothis.

AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.

2.

Thesentencesfollowing
thisdevelopandexplain
yourtopicsentence.
*Howcanyouexplain
yourkeypointinmore
detail?
*Isthereevidenceto
supportyourkeypoint?
*Doestheevidence
requireexplanation?
*Check:haveyouclearly
addedtoansweringthe
questionbymakingthis
point?

Paragraph topic:
1.

Doesyourfirstsentence
introducethepointofthe
paragraph?
*Yourfirstsentenceis
yourtopicsentenceand
mustdothis.

2.

Thesentencesfollowing
thisdevelopandexplain
yourtopicsentence.
*Howcanyouexplain
yourkeypointinmore
detail?
*Isthereevidenceto
supportyourkeypoint?
*Doestheevidence
requireexplanation?
*Check:haveyouclearly
addedtoansweringthe
questionbymakingthis
point?

Paragraph topic:
1.

Doesyourfirstsentence
introducethepointofthe
paragraph?
*Yourfirstsentenceis
yourtopicsentenceand
mustdothis.

2.

Thesentencesfollowing
thisdevelopandexplain
yourtopicsentence.
*Howcanyouexplain
yourkeypointinmore
detail?
*Isthereevidenceto
supportyourkeypoint?
*Doestheevidence
requireexplanation?
*Check:haveyouclearly
addedtoansweringthe

AnalysetheroleofGovernmentandNonGovernmentOrganisationsinrelationtoTRADE.
questionbymakingthis
point?