Assistant Secretary Witkowsky’s Travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea
International Travel Information
What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.
International Travel Information: Learn MoreHighlights
U.S. Relationship
U.S.-Australia Relations
Australia is a vital ally, partner, and friend of the United States. The United States and Australia maintain a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. Economic, academic, and people-to-people ties are vibrant and strong. The two countries marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2015. In 2017, the United States and Australia marked the 75th anniversary of several key World War II battles, including the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal. In 2018, the two countries marked 100 Years of Mateship (Friendship), commemorating the Battle of Hamel in which U.S. and Australian forces first fought side-by-side.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on January 1, 2005. The U.S.-Australia FTA has boosted U.S. goods exports to Australia by more than 80 percent since 2004 (pre-FTA); U.S. services exports are up by over 200 percent from 2004. In 2018, total U.S. goods and services trade with Australia totaled US $65.9 billion, and the United States ran a trade surplus of US $28.9 billion. According to U.S. Department of Commerce estimates, U.S. exports of goods and services to Australia support nearly 250,000 U.S. jobs, in sectors including machinery, travel services, industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods, and financial services. In return, Australia exports foods, feeds, and beverages; industrial supplies and materials; and business and travel services. Australia has proven to be an appealing and profitable market for U.S. companies for many years. It offers very few barriers to entry, a familiar legal and corporate framework, and a sophisticated – yet straightforward business culture.
![Australia Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small, five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars. [CIA World Fact Book]](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/as-lgflag.gif){kind=small}