Free trade agreements signed but not yet in force
Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
On 17 September 2024 Australia and the United Arab Emirates announced conclusion of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (A-UAE CEPA).
The agreement was signed on 6 November 2024.
The agreement is Australia’s first free trade agreement with the Middle East. Removing and reducing UAE import tariffs will help farmers and food producers gain a competitive edge through preferential access to the UAE’s growing market for high-value premium food and agriculture products.
In 2023-24 the UAE was Australia’s 11th largest export destination for agriculture, fisheries and forestry products, worth $1.7 billion. The UAE is an important and growing market for Australian agriculture exports, including the re-export of goods to the Middle East region.
Entry-into-force of the agreement is expected in mid-2025, following domestic treaty making processes for both countries. For Australia, this involves tabling the Treaty before Parliament and consideration by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT).
Learn more about the A-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
Australia and India formally launched Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations in May 2011. In 2022, India was Australia’s sixth largest trading partner with two-way goods and services trade valued at $46.5 billion.
CECA negotiations were suspended in 2016 before recommencing in September 2021.
An interim agreement with India - called the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) - was signed on 2 April 2022 and entered into force on 29 December 2022.
CECA negotiations continue and aim to build upon ECTA outcomes to develop closer economic ties between Australia and India.
Learn more about our agreement with India..
Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement
Australia and the European Union (EU) launched negotiations for a free trade agreement on 18 June 2018.
In 2022, the EU was Australia's third largest trading partner, our fifth largest export destination and our second largest services export market.
Through the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), Australia aims to:
- improve market access for Australian agricultural and industrial products,
- lock in access for service providers,
- reduce barriers to trade and investment through modern customs, rules of origin and trade facilitation procedures, and
- enhance transparency and regulatory frameworks.
Learn more about the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement..
Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership
On 9 September 2022, Australia joined 13 other countries to launch negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership (IPEF).
The Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership is a modern regional agreement to build cooperation and economic integration in the Indo-Pacific across four pillars of work:
- trade
- supply chains
- clean energy
- fair economy (tax and anti-corruption issues).
IPEF partners have signed the Supply Chain Agreement, the Clean Economy Agreement, the Fair Economy Agreement and an overarching IPEF Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership for Prosperity.