On 10 November, Fragomen’s Regional Managing Partner for Asia Pacific, Robert Walsh, gave the Vote of Thanks at the launch of CEDA’s latest research report, Global Networks: transforming how Australia does business. The report examines the extent of benefits to Australia from trade liberalisation, particularly in the wake of the China Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
A number of the papers in the Report note among the benefits for Australia the fact that export facilitation will not just flow to the more traditional primary industries such as agriculture. Critically, the agreement provides much deeper inroads for the sales of services into China than has been available in previous agreements. This is important because while services account for 75% of Australia’s economy, they comprise only 20% of our exports; with many of these service ‘exports’, such as the education of international students, actually delivered onshore. The opportunity created by additional access to the Chinese market is that – even before ChAFTA – China was Australia’s largest destination for services exports.
With an expansion in trade in services comes greater need for labour mobility, and this needs to work both ways. Movement of workers gives businesses in both Australia and China the chance to make the most of the opportunities that ChAFTA presents. While the measures available for large projects (through the prospect of Investment Facilitation Agreements (IFAs)) has received the most attention, the concessions agreed by China – such as to allow trailing spouses and children to accompany Australian workers, the first time in any such agreement signed by China – makes the assignment of workers to China a more realistic proposition for small and medium enterprises. Having your own people on the ground and making local connections is critical to the long-haul commitment needed to successfully do business in China.
Several commentators in the Report also discuss the need for development of a new formal trade policy, to set parameters for the negotiation of future free trade agreements and hopefully avoid some of the issues seen during the parliamentary debate over ChAFTA. A clear trade strategy will also assist to grow Australia’s trade markets in Asia.
One of the more astute observations in the Report is the extent to which negotiation of these agreements is a diplomatic, rather than purely economic exercise, which can mean that the terms of the agreement are developed in an opaque process inconsistent with principles of open government. Of course, in the case of some of our trading partners, the extent of our diplomatic relations is our trade; and some degree of diplomatic confidentiality is critical to reaching an agreement. Nonetheless, the recommendation in the Report that trade policy and negotiations needs to be separated out from foreign policy is a sensible one that should be pursued further.
Given the apparent importance of trade in services to the Australian economy, any new trade policy must include a framework for labour mobility, both into and out of Australia. As we have seen with the IFA debate, this must include deliberate planning for the movement of workers in industries which tend to be people-intensive, but lower skilled.
For those interested in exploring this topic further, I commend CEDA’s report to you. It’s a thought-provoking read.
Explore more at Fragomen
Video
Partner Charles Johanes discusses key tips on managing workforce ratios and other localisation requirements across the APAC region.
Blog post
Associate Anastasija Vasiljeva discusses the digitalisation of the UK immigration system, how these changes are designed to enhance efficiency and security and how student sponsors and visa nationals must stay informed and compliant.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Elizabeth Kamm discusses changes to the Schengen Area that travellers should be aware of and how travellers can ensure they are prepared to meet immigration requirements.
Blog post
Senior Manager Deirdre Murray discusses the possibility of the Irish Government granting the spouses and partners of Intra-Company Transfer employment permits an automatic right to work in Ireland.
Media mentions
El director Miguel Jiménez analiza el programa de viajes de negocios a corto plazo de México con GBTA en la Conferencia LATAM 2024 en Ciudad de México.
Media mentions
Director Claire Cumiskey joins the Breakfast Business podcast to discuss Ireland’s Employment Permits Bill.
Blog post
Senior Associate Evan Tutton and Immigration Supervisor Sanjay Parmar discuss how organisations in the UK employing Student visa holders must ensure immigration compliance, and what steps Student visa holders should take.
Blog post
This blog covers the UK Government's evaluation of the Graduate visa route's effectiveness, its potential for abuse and the impact on the country's higher education system and economy, as well as the impending review by the MAC.
Media mentions
Partner Dan Brown co-authored a whitepaper on how the U.S is better situated to face workforce challenges because of immigration.
Media mentions
Partnering with Talent Beyond Boundaries, Fragomen continues to support displaced people in their host societies.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Kelly Hardman discusses Scotland’s hospitality sector following the UK government’s increase to the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas.
Blog post
Manager Russell Hodges and Immigration Paralegal Natalia Jozwiak discuss the future of the UK's science sector following the country's 2024 re-entry into the Horizon programme and shift in migration policy.
Video
Partner Charles Johanes discusses key tips on managing workforce ratios and other localisation requirements across the APAC region.
Blog post
Associate Anastasija Vasiljeva discusses the digitalisation of the UK immigration system, how these changes are designed to enhance efficiency and security and how student sponsors and visa nationals must stay informed and compliant.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Elizabeth Kamm discusses changes to the Schengen Area that travellers should be aware of and how travellers can ensure they are prepared to meet immigration requirements.
Blog post
Senior Manager Deirdre Murray discusses the possibility of the Irish Government granting the spouses and partners of Intra-Company Transfer employment permits an automatic right to work in Ireland.
Media mentions
El director Miguel Jiménez analiza el programa de viajes de negocios a corto plazo de México con GBTA en la Conferencia LATAM 2024 en Ciudad de México.
Media mentions
Director Claire Cumiskey joins the Breakfast Business podcast to discuss Ireland’s Employment Permits Bill.
Blog post
Senior Associate Evan Tutton and Immigration Supervisor Sanjay Parmar discuss how organisations in the UK employing Student visa holders must ensure immigration compliance, and what steps Student visa holders should take.
Blog post
This blog covers the UK Government's evaluation of the Graduate visa route's effectiveness, its potential for abuse and the impact on the country's higher education system and economy, as well as the impending review by the MAC.
Media mentions
Partner Dan Brown co-authored a whitepaper on how the U.S is better situated to face workforce challenges because of immigration.
Media mentions
Partnering with Talent Beyond Boundaries, Fragomen continues to support displaced people in their host societies.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Kelly Hardman discusses Scotland’s hospitality sector following the UK government’s increase to the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas.
Blog post
Manager Russell Hodges and Immigration Paralegal Natalia Jozwiak discuss the future of the UK's science sector following the country's 2024 re-entry into the Horizon programme and shift in migration policy.