Australia-China
China and Australia have been in negotiations for what may be a major bilateral free trade deal.
A framework agreement for the potential FTA was signed in October 2003, and talks began in April 2005 after a feasibility study was conducted. Australia seeks a comprehensive agreement covering all sectors, while China seeks to limit the deal’s coverage and hoped to complete negotiations within two years. The pace of negotiations has been slow. Negotiations stalled for over a year after thehe 13th round of negotiations in December 2008. The 18th round of talks was held in Canberra in March 2012.
Australian manufacturers are worried about the potential influx of cheap Chinese goods while local horticulturalists and others are concerned about low wages and poor environmental and food safety standards behind China’s agricultural exports to Australia. Canberra, on the other hand, wants to gain more market access in China for Australian firms, including in the dairy sector where Chinese consumption is growing fast. (Australia trails behind New Zealand and the US in China’s dairy market.)
last update: May 2012
Articles
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19-Dec-2014 Mortgage Business OZ: Chinese property ‘buying spree’ to accelerate in 2015
Australia’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China is expected to boost Chinese acquisitions of Australian residential land banks, hotels, office buildings and agricultural landholdings -
24-Nov-2014 Mondq Australian dairy at the core of landmark Australia-China free trade agreement
While the new FTA generally opens up Australian assets to Chinese investors, farmland deals valued at over $15 million will face foreign investment review scrutiny. -
23-Nov-2014 Australia’s gains at China’s expense signal new Free Trade Agreement landscape
International trade experts and diplomats have been astonished at one-sided gains made by Australia in this week’s free trade deal with China, with some believing Australia is poised to ride on the coat tails of a new era in China opening to international trade. -
20-Nov-2014 The Age Large Chinese dairy investment follows historic FTA
The New Hope dairy investment could be the first of many deals fuelled by the historic China-Australia free trade agreement. -
19-Nov-2014 SBS FTA could ’lower mine safety’
Mining groups fear standards could slip at Australian mines if Chinese companies are allowed to bring in their own workers. -
18-Nov-2014 Xinhua L’ALE Chine-Australie, un test important pour les autres pays industrialisés (INTERVIEW)
L’accord de libre-échange (ALE) Chine-Australie deviendra un test historique pour les autres pays industrialisés, a déclaré mardi le Conseil de commerce Australie-Chine (ACBC). -
18-Nov-2014 SMH Chinese corporations allowed to sue Australian government under free trade agreement
The deal struck between China and Australia on Monday will contain an Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanism that will allow Chinese corporations to challenge the Australian government for "pretty much anything", say academics -
18-Nov-2014 China Daily Deal set to boost food cooperation
An unprecedented agreement was signed by agriculture tycoons from China and Australia on Monday providing that food from Australia sold to China will be of the highest quality and "marked under one brand and under one logo". -
17-Nov-2014 Reuters L’Australie et la Chine signent un pré-accord de libre-échange
La Chine et l’Australie ont signé lundi un accord préliminaire à un traité de libre-échange en négociations depuis plus de dix ans susceptible d’ouvrir les marchés chinois aux entreprises australiennes et de lever les restrictions pesant sur les investissements chinois. -
17-Nov-2014 AFP Aus-China trade deal a ’game changer’
Australia and China sealed a landmark trade deal hailed Monday as a “game-changer”, abolishing tariffs in the lucrative resources and agricultural sectors as Canberra confronts a painful downturn in mining.
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Australia China Business Council
Corporate lobby group promoting Australia’s business interests towards China -
Australia-China FTA negotiations
Information page maintained by the Australian government
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News from the movements
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Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung have today released an updated version of their publication on TTIP by John Hilary. -
26-Feb-2015 El Faradio
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