China-Australia Free Trade Agreement under review

WITH China as Australia’s largest trading partner, a round of public hearings to examine the costs and benefits of the proposed China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will begin next week.

The Treaties Committee will commence hearings on Monday 27 July in Brisbane. The second hearing will take place in Sydney on Friday 31 July to be followed by hearings in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania.   

China provides Australia’s largest agriculture and fisheries market and biggest export market for resources, energy and manufacturing. Chinese investment in Australia has grown strongly in recent years and the country is Australia’s largest services market as well.

The Agreement is expected to eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on a wide range of Australian goods exports including beef, dairy, sheep meat, wine, horticulture and energy and resource products. It also delivers China’s best services commitments to date, including the provision of new or significantly improved market access for financial, legal, education and health and aged care services.

Committee Chair, Mr Wyatt Roy MP, said that Australia’s free trade agreements are intended to reduce barriers to trade for Australian producers and exporters.

“However, the committee understands that there are some serious questions regarding the impact of these agreements on the broader economy and it is interested in hearing from a range of witnesses on the possible positive and negative aspects of implementing this agreement,” he said.   

Public Hearing: Monday 27 July 2015,
Level 6 Mediation Room 2, Commonwealth Law Courts 119 North Quay, Brisbane

12.30pm Queensland Seafood Industry Association
Queensland Seafood Marketers Association Inc
1.10pm Packer Leather
1.50pm HopgoodGanim
2.30pm ThomsonAdsett
3.10pm Close

Public Hearing: Friday 31 July 2015,
Macquarie Room, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney

9.30am Council of Private Higher Education
10.15am Australian Fair Trade Investment Network
11.00am Financial Services Council
11.45am Australian Red Meat Industry
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm Private individual
2.15pm Blackmores Ltd
3.00pm Communications Electrical Plumbing Union
3.45pm Close

The hearing will be broadcast through: www.aph.gov.au/live
Hearing programs, copies of the treaties and submissions received can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties  Alternatively, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone (02) 6277 4002.