Domestic consultations for the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) commenced in 2004 and negotations concluded in November 2014.
ChAFTA entered into force on 20 December 2015.
China–Australia FTA negotiations
Following 21 rounds of negotiations, then Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, and then Chinese Commerce Minister, Gao Hucheng, signed a Declaration of Intent in the presence of Prime Minister Abbott and Chinese President Xi, formalising the conclusion of the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) negotiations. This took place in a ceremony held at Parliament House on 17 November 2014.
Leading up to and during the negotiations, the government received more than 260 public submissions on ChAFTA. Around 710 direct consultations were also held with stakeholders.
More information on public consultation, and all other aspects of ChAFTA, can be found in the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and the National Interest Analysis (NIA).
Resources
The Australian Government response to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Report 154: China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
The Australian Government also provided a response to a Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Report [PDF 33 KB] in April 2006.
Joint Feasibility Study
In March 2005, an Australia-China Free Trade Agreement Joint Feasibility Study [PDF 1.4 MB] was conducted to scope the benefits of an FTA with China.
Two reports were also produced based on modelling of a proposed FTA with China:
- Modelling the Potential Benefits of an Australia-China Free Trade Agreement [PDF 572 KB]
- Modelling the Potential Benefits of an Australia-China Free Trade Agreement: Impact on Australian States and Territories [PDF 128 KB].
Implementation process
ChAFTA entered into force on 20 December 2015. The agreement established a Joint Commission to supervise the implementation of the agreement. The Joint Commission comprises officials of both countries and is co-chaired by the trade ministers or their respective delegates. Meetings of the Joint Commission are an opportunity to consider and resolve any matters that may affect the operation of ChAFTA and to explore ways to enhance trade and investment opportunities covered by the agreement.
The table below provides a snapshot of the key event in the implementation process.
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17 November 2014 |
At a ceremony at Parliament House, former Australian Trade and Investment Minister, Mr Andrew Robb AO MP and the Chinese Commerce Minister, Mr Gao Hucheng, signed a Declaration of Intent, formalising the conclusion of ChAFTA negotiations. |
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17 June 2015 |
ChAFTA was signed in Canberra by Mr Robb and Mr Gao. The same day, Mr Robb tabled ChAFTA in the Australian Parliament. Mr Robb's tabling statement is available for download. |
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16 September 2015 |
Minister Robb introduced customs implementing legislation into Parliament. |
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19 October 2015 |
The Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) that conducted a public inquiry into ChAFTA tabled the report of its inquiry in Parliament. The report included a number of recommendations, including that binding treaty action be taken. |
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22 October 2015 |
ChAFTA implementing legislation passed by the House of Representatives. |
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6 November 2015 |
Reports by two other Parliamentary committees that reviewed ChAFTA and its implementing legislation (the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee and the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee) were tabled in Parliament. Both supported binding treaty action being taken. |
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9 November 2015 |
ChAFTA implementing legislation passed by the Senate. |
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9 December 2015 |
Exchange of diplomatic notes between Australia and China confirming the completion of domestic processes in both countries. |
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20 December 2015 |
Entry into force; first round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2016 |
Second round of tariff cuts. |
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20 December 2016 |
68 additional Australian private higher education institutions listed on a key Chinese Ministry of Education website. |
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1 January 2017 |
Third round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2018 |
Fourth round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2019 |
Fifth round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2020 |
Sixth round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2021 |
Seventh round of tariff cuts. |
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1 January 2022 |
Eighth round of tariff cuts. |