Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I thank Senator Williams for that excellent question. As with the energy and resources sector, this agreement represents an unprecedented level of access to the Chinese market, helping to ensure that Australia's manufacturing sector will continue to thrive into the future.

This agreement creates new opportunities for Australian manufacturers, including those seeking to supply goods to China's rapidly-expanding middle class. Tariffs of up to 10 per cent on pharmaceutical and vitamin products will be phased out within four years. The automotive sector will gain from the elimination of a 10 per cent tariff on Australian-made engines. There will be even further gains for Australian aluminium in the form of finished products, such as plates and sheets, worth about $31 million.

In addition, manufacturers and other industries will benefit from greater certainty by the locking in of zero per cent tariffs on a range of other manufactured products, including woodchips, pine products, some electrical and communications equipment and some paper based products. (Time expired)