Submission to the General Review of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Submission overview
The Australian Alliance for Animals welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the general review of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Representing six leading animal protection organisations and over 2 million Australians, this submission highlights the growing expectation that international trade agreements reflect and uphold strong animal welfare standards.
Animal welfare is a critical component of sustainable development, with implications across economic, social, and environmental outcomes. However, the current ChAFTA contains no explicit recognition of animal welfare. Our submission outlines a clear opportunity for the Australian Government to address this gap by embedding high-level animal welfare principles, commitments to continuous improvement, and mechanisms for cooperation within the agreement.
Drawing on precedents established in recent agreements with the United Kingdom, European Union, and United Arab Emirates, the Alliance calls for ChAFTA to include similar provisions. Strengthening animal welfare commitments in this review would reinforce Australia’s position as a global leader in ethical trade and ensure that international agreements align with community expectations and domestic standards.
Read our submission
In this submission, the Alliance for Animals advocates for the Australian Government to embed animal welfare commitments into ChAFTA, ensuring trade agreements reflect community expectations and support continuous global improvement in animal welfare standards.