Australia cuts 500 'nuisance' tariffs, from fridges to fishing reels

SYDNEY -- Australia will eliminate 500 tariffs covering a wide range of imported goods, seeking to reduce compliance costs as part of a broader push to streamline regulation, the country's treasurer announced on Monday.

The goods covered, ranging from washing machines, fridges and dishwashers to clothing, menstrual products, pajamas and bamboo chopsticks, are valued at about 8.5 billion Australian dollars ($5.6 billion) annually. However, many are already shipped to Australia under duty-free trade deals.