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Mission Statement

To advocate and support the case for pro-business outcomes in Australia-China, Australia-Japan and Australia-Korea free trade agreements.

Asia Business Focus is a group of businesses that seeks a positive result for Australian business from the Australia-China, Australia-Japan and Australia-South Korea free trade agreements. The group brings together Australian companies and industry associations to secure opportunities and address the challenges presented by negotiation of these agreements. The group's activities include advocacy, communication, research and representation. Asia Business Focus replaced the China Business Focus in March 2009, to reflect the expanded focus of Australia's FTA agenda in the Asian region.

With the uncertainty of the Doha Round and the onset of global financial crisis, there is political interest in Canberra in completing agreements with China and Japan (currently under negotiation) and South Korea (with negotiations due to begin in May). China and Japan are Australia's largest and second-largest trading partners, respectively. South Korea is Australia's sixth-largest trading partner, with a growing relationship in both trade and investment. FTAs with all three countries will be important for Australia.

FTAs provide an opportunity to reduce the cost of doing business and expand business opportunities. They can increase certainty of trade and investment and lower commercial risk by providing rights enforceable in international law for foreign companies to trade, invest and operate in foreign markets. Advanced free trade agreements today do far more than reduce border controls on imports. They can provide legal rights of establishment in foreign markets, provide rights to compete, protect foreign investment, reduce and eliminate regulatory discrimination and protect intellectual property. The breadth of coverage in an FTA depends on the willingness of the negotiating parties.

Trade agreements only enhance commercial prospects if business is fully involved in the negotiating process. Industry is most familiar with the costly barriers in its markets. If not adequately consulted, trade agreements can be negotiated that do not sufficiently comprehend or prioritise business interests. This represents a competitive opportunity lost.


What successful agreements will look like

Australian FTAs with China, Japan and South Korea should increase bilateral trade and investment flows. They should provide tangible benefits for business over normal matter of course.

The group will strive for FTAs that legally enshrine reductions to trade barriers. It will also seek inclusion of beyond-the-border measures that improve opportunities for business. The agreements should also create opportunities for Australia, China, Japan and South Korea to support institution-building in non-trade areas such as research and development and technical co-operation.

The group will seek agreements that will meet the following goals:


Specific post-border measures:
  • Reduce restrictions on foreign investors;
  • Support market transition and agreement on collaboration and capacity building;
  • Protect business rights;
  • Improve standards and testing; and
  • Facilitate the free movement of business people.

Specific border issues:
  • Reduce tariff barriers;
  • Improve administration of quarantine on particular products; and
  • Improve the administration of border and customs control.

Broad Objectives

The group will promote the following broad objectives:
  • FTAs should secure direct and commercially effective benefits for business, and not produce just a political outcome;
  • It is in Australia's long term economic interest to secure commitments bound in international law which enable business to operate more freely in Asian markets;
  • FTAs may need to cover areas not traditionally covered in other FTAs;
  • Full consultation with Australian government before negotiations are concluded.

Key Activities

These interests will be advanced during the negotiation process. This will involve:
  • Participating in public discussion of FTAs, to focus them on the broad objectives of the group;
  • Consulting with government at ministerial and departmental level, to promote understanding of the negotiation process and the interests of business;
  • Monitoring core trade issues informing Australia's relationship with China, Japan and South Korea;
  • Representing the interests of the group at key forums.



Asia Business Focus is managed by ITS Global.
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