Important Updates
Important Updates
July 10, 2025 | IrelandThe Irish Times: AI Technologies Being Used in Effort to Reduce Risk of Fraud in Immigration Process Department of Justice Says New Tools Are Not Used for Application Decision-Making
July 10, 2025 | United KingdomGames Industry: What the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration White Paper Mean for the UK Games Industry
July 10, 2025 | United KingdomPartner Julia Onslow-Cole Named to Citywealth Leaders List 2025
July 10, 2025 | PolandPoland: EU Blue Card Rules Relaxed
July 10, 2025 | Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia: Grace Period for Foreign Nationals in Irregular Status
July 10, 2025 | IrelandThe Irish Times: AI Technologies Being Used in Effort to Reduce Risk of Fraud in Immigration Process Department of Justice Says New Tools Are Not Used for Application Decision-Making
July 10, 2025 | United KingdomGames Industry: What the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration White Paper Mean for the UK Games Industry
July 10, 2025 | United KingdomPartner Julia Onslow-Cole Named to Citywealth Leaders List 2025
July 10, 2025 | PolandPoland: EU Blue Card Rules Relaxed
July 10, 2025 | Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia: Grace Period for Foreign Nationals in Irregular Status
July 10, 2025 | IrelandThe Irish Times: AI Technologies Being Used in Effort to Reduce Risk of Fraud in Immigration Process Department of Justice Says New Tools Are Not Used for Application Decision-Making
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationTravel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapHumanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)Vietnamese ImmigrationAustralian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Travel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Humanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • Australian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
  • Insights

ChAFTA Now in Force: Are You Reaping the Benefits?

January 4, 2016

Countries / Territories

  • AustraliaAustralia
  • ChinaChina

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

By: Teresa Liu

The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) came into force on 20 December 2015. A total of 7,289 individual Chinese tariffs were cut (including 1,710 tariffs completely eliminated) on this date, with further second year agreement tariff cuts made on 1 January 2016.

Of course, the benefits of ChAFTA are beyond tariff cuts, and are aimed to more broadly stimulate growth between the countries, where investments are currently already worth around $121 billion. Importantly, the agreement gives Australia un-precedent access to the China market where China is already Australia’s largest export market for both goods and services. Under most-favoured nation treatment (MFN) provisions in ChAFTA’s, China has also committed to extend to Australia more favourable treatment it might provide to other trade partners in certain sectors in the future.

As further details have become clearer since ChAFTA was signed on 17 June 2015, Australian business can now look with more certainty at the opportunities that this brings. While there is a tendency to view our economic relationship with China and Australia through our exports of iron ore, coal and LNG, the benefits from ChAFTA extend to sectors like health care, education, financial services and legal services, as well as agriculture, processed food, resources, energy and manufacturing.

More particularly, ChAFTA will allow Australian businesses to take full advantage of e-commerce and other emerging technologies in a deep and expansive market, and it is hoped it will assist in driving Australia’s agenda in innovation and science, R&D and entrepreneurial activity, as recently announced by Australia’s Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP on 7 December.  China is already well ahead in this global game and already accounts for 50 per cent more patent applications per year than the United States.

What can you expect from Australia’s immigration program?

As part of ChAFTA, there is a commitment by both Australia and China to reduce barriers to labour mobility and in improving temporary entry access within the existing immigration and employment frameworks.

During the last 6 months, a number of concerns about labour mobility were raised by sectors of the Australian community. There was a concern that the agreement allowed for unrestricted access to Chinese workers and therefore threatened Australia jobs. The government has sought to clarify that ChAFTA will not remove the need for employer sponsorship under the 457 visa programme and its usual rules but does allow access to the same rules as most other countries.  

The proposed Investment Facilitation Arrangements (IFAs) which have been made available under a separate MOU and which applies to Chinese companies making significant investments in Australia (more than $150 million in specific types of infrastructure development projects) also came under some level of scrutiny.

Australia is already the second largest country for Chinese overseas investment outside Hong Kong. It is expected that IFAs will strengthen infrastructure development and investment (with resultant economic benefits) and will lead to the creation of local jobs. Again, the Government has sought to clarify how the more flexible entry of foreign Chinese workers in these large scale projects would be applied within its existing immigration framework.

Australia's immigration and compliance framework otherwise remains to be a tightly controlled and strict one for all employers, business and investors, so it is critical to ensure there is proper advance planning and management where foreign workers are required, whether for work or business. This is particularly the case for businesses seeking to take advantage of IFAs where it is critical to be well across and up to date as to how the IFA will be practically applied and as further details become known.

We have also seen increased scrutiny by the Department of Immigration on employers and sponsor’s regarding their obligations towards their employees and to the immigration rules more generally. This has particularly become more apparent since 1 July where Australian Border Force, the new agency which combines the front line operations of immigration and customs was formed.

ChAFTA is a significant pin in Australia's longer term economic strategy and it is critical for business and investors to continue to keep appraised of its development and to look towards how it can participate and reap the benefits of this agreement.  As Andrew Robb indicated in his media release of 20 December 2015 noted, “ChAFTA, along with this Government’s ground-breaking trade deals with Korea and Japan, forms a powerful trifecta of agreements with our three biggest export markets. We encourage Australian businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities they present…”.

If you have not already done so, this is the time to look at opportunities. Fragomen is there is advise and support you each step of the way.

 

Countries / Territories

  • AustraliaAustralia
  • ChinaChina

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Teresa Liu

Teresa Liu

Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Email

[email protected]

T:+61 2 8224 8518

Related offices

  • Beijing
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

Games Industry: What the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration White Paper Mean for the UK Games Industry

Director Laurence Keir-Thomas outlines how recent changes to UK immigration and industrial policy may affect talent planning and hiring across the games sector.

Learn more

Video

Grace Period for Submission of Documents for Temporary Residence Permits Eliminated in Portugal | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Senior Consultant Ada Plant discusses how Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) no longer accepts incomplete temporary residence applications.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole Named to Citywealth Leaders List 2025

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole is named to the prestigious Citywealth Leaders List 2025, which recognises leading professionals in wealth management and private client services.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Irish Times: AI Technologies Being Used in Effort to Reduce Risk of Fraud in Immigration Process Department of Justice Says New Tools Are Not Used for Application Decision-Making

Partner Ángel Bello Cortés discusses how Ireland’s Department of Justice is rolling out AI tools to reduce fraud risks in the immigration process.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Insider: How Trump's Immigration Crackdown is Reshaping Financial Industry Hiring, Travel, and Dealmaking

Partner Isha Atassi discusses the impact of immigration policy changes on financial firms’ global mobility and workforce planning.

Learn more

Blog post

Charting a Course: Securing Space-Sector Talent Amid UK Immigration Reforms

Director Laxmi Limbani discusses strategies for securing talent in the UK space sector amid recent immigration reforms.

Learn more

Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools

This blog highlights the most significant immigration trends across both Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2025.

Learn more

Video

Canada Express Entry Explained: Who’s Eligible and How to Apply

In this video, Partner Jack Kim explains how Canada’s Express Entry system works.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen, Julia Onslow-Cole Shortlisted for FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards

Fragomen and Partner Julia Onslow-Cole are shortlisted for the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards.

Learn more

Media mentions

Leading Britain's Conversation: UK Businesses Urged to Act Fast as Immigration Reforms Clash With Industrial Strategy

Associate Aisha Shahid highlights how upcoming UK immigration reforms may impact key sectors and urges businesses to prepare.

Learn more

Awards

Partners Nadine Bahnan, Ruth Spillane and Karine Wenger Named to San Diego Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence in Law

Partners Nadine Bahnan, Ruth Spillane and Karine Wenger are named to San Diego Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence in Law list.

Learn more

Blog post

Private Client Options in APAC: Bespoke Services and Residency Planning

Business Immigration Manager Yvonne Lee and Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock discuss bespoke services and residency planning options for private clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Learn more

Media mentions

Games Industry: What the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration White Paper Mean for the UK Games Industry

Director Laurence Keir-Thomas outlines how recent changes to UK immigration and industrial policy may affect talent planning and hiring across the games sector.

Learn more

Video

Grace Period for Submission of Documents for Temporary Residence Permits Eliminated in Portugal | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Senior Consultant Ada Plant discusses how Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) no longer accepts incomplete temporary residence applications.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole Named to Citywealth Leaders List 2025

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole is named to the prestigious Citywealth Leaders List 2025, which recognises leading professionals in wealth management and private client services.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Irish Times: AI Technologies Being Used in Effort to Reduce Risk of Fraud in Immigration Process Department of Justice Says New Tools Are Not Used for Application Decision-Making

Partner Ángel Bello Cortés discusses how Ireland’s Department of Justice is rolling out AI tools to reduce fraud risks in the immigration process.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Insider: How Trump's Immigration Crackdown is Reshaping Financial Industry Hiring, Travel, and Dealmaking

Partner Isha Atassi discusses the impact of immigration policy changes on financial firms’ global mobility and workforce planning.

Learn more

Blog post

Charting a Course: Securing Space-Sector Talent Amid UK Immigration Reforms

Director Laxmi Limbani discusses strategies for securing talent in the UK space sector amid recent immigration reforms.

Learn more

Blog post

2025 APAC and Europe Immigration Trends: Shared Goals, Diverging Tools

This blog highlights the most significant immigration trends across both Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2025.

Learn more

Video

Canada Express Entry Explained: Who’s Eligible and How to Apply

In this video, Partner Jack Kim explains how Canada’s Express Entry system works.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen, Julia Onslow-Cole Shortlisted for FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards

Fragomen and Partner Julia Onslow-Cole are shortlisted for the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards.

Learn more

Media mentions

Leading Britain's Conversation: UK Businesses Urged to Act Fast as Immigration Reforms Clash With Industrial Strategy

Associate Aisha Shahid highlights how upcoming UK immigration reforms may impact key sectors and urges businesses to prepare.

Learn more

Awards

Partners Nadine Bahnan, Ruth Spillane and Karine Wenger Named to San Diego Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence in Law

Partners Nadine Bahnan, Ruth Spillane and Karine Wenger are named to San Diego Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence in Law list.

Learn more

Blog post

Private Client Options in APAC: Bespoke Services and Residency Planning

Business Immigration Manager Yvonne Lee and Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock discuss bespoke services and residency planning options for private clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.