  
  
WT/REG 400/N/1  
S/C/N /986  
 
17 January 2020  
(20-0510) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Council for Trade in Services  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF REGI ONAL TRADE AGREEMENT  
1. Member(s) notifying:   
Hong Kong, China and Australia  
2. Date of notification:        
17 January 2020  
3. Notification pursuant to  
[X] Article XXIV:7(a) of GATT 1994  
[X] Article V:7(a) of GATS  
[ ] Paragraph 4(a) of the Enabling Clause  
4. Parties to the Agreement:   
Hong Kong, China and Australia  
5. Date of signature:   
26 March 2019  
6. Date(s) of entry into Force:        
17 January 2020  
7. Brief description of the Agreement:        
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong , China and Australia is 
comprehensive, modern and of high standard which covers trade in goods, trade in 
services, investment, e-commerce, government procurement, intellectual property, 
competition and  a dispute settlement mechanism.  On trade in goods, Hong  Kong, China 
and Australia eliminate all tariffs on goods originating from each other  upon the entry into 
force of the FTA.  On trade in services, both sides have made various improvements over 
its commitments under the World Trade Organi zation, covering a wide range of sectors 
such as professional services, transport services, financial services, telecommunications 
services and various business servic es. The FTA also include s facilitative arrangements for 
business travel as well as provisions to facilitate access to each other's government 
procurement markets, effective protection of intellectual prop erty rights and promotion of 
competition.  In addition, it provides principles  that enhance regulatory coherence and a 
transparent mechanism for consultations and settlement of possible disputes arising under 
the FTA.  
 
An associated Investment Agreement was also signed by Hong Kong, China and Australia.  
The two Agreements are  an integral part of a wider process of economic integration and 
trade liberalization.  
 WT/REG 400/N/1 • S/C/N /986 
 
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  8. Text and related schedules, annexes and protocols are:  
[ ] submitted to the WTO Secretar iat (electronic format)  
[X] available from the following official Internet link(s):  
Hong Kong, China: https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkaufta/index.html  
 
Australia:  https://dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in -force/a -hkfta/a -hkfta -
text/Pages/default.aspx  
 