The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The United States and Australia signed one of the biggest free-trade agreements the Bush administration has negotiated in its dash to strike two-way deals with countries all over the world.

While Tuesday's deal would eliminate nearly all tariffs on manufactured goods, it maintains U.S. trade barriers against imports of Australian sugar, beef and dairy products, reflecting the clout farmers have in Congress, particularly in an election year.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile, who negotiated the accord, urged lawmakers in their two countries to quickly approve the agreement so it can go into effect Jan. 1.

The Bush administration and some Republican leaders in Congress are pushing for votes on agreements with Australia and perhaps Morocco this year. The United States also is conducting trade talks with Peru and Ecuador after reaching a deal earlier this year with five Caribbean countries.

Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said this month chances of a vote on Australia are very high.

Zoellick said two-way annual trade with Australia is about $28 billion and the U.S. has a $9 billion trade surplus with the country, its 13th-largest export market.

In Australia, opposition parties have opposed the agreement, describing it as a sellout. But Vaile said lawmakers were making progress on the accord.