Coalition and Labor to talk turkey on China-Australia free trade deal

By Mark Kenny
Updated October 14 2015 - 4:08pm, first published October 13 2015 - 6:25pm
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, former prime minister Tony Abbott and Trade Minister Andrew Robb at the signing of the China-Australia free trade agreement in June.  Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, former prime minister Tony Abbott and Trade Minister Andrew Robb at the signing of the China-Australia free trade agreement in June. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Flexibility has increased under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's leadership. Photo: Andrew Meares
Flexibility has increased under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's leadership. Photo: Andrew Meares
The Labor caucus agreed to the China compromise on Tuesday following consultations led by opposition trade spokeswoman Penny Wong. Photo: Andrew Meares
The Labor caucus agreed to the China compromise on Tuesday following consultations led by opposition trade spokeswoman Penny Wong. Photo: Andrew Meares
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Mr Turnbull during the launch of the 2015 National Day of Unity at Parliament House on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Mr Turnbull during the launch of the 2015 National Day of Unity at Parliament House on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mutual admiration: Mr Turnbull with former prime minister John Howard during the launch of the John Howard Walk of Wonder at science and technology centre Questacon in Canberra on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mutual admiration: Mr Turnbull with former prime minister John Howard during the launch of the John Howard Walk of Wonder at science and technology centre Questacon in Canberra on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Chinese President Xi Jinping (rear) and then Australian prime minister Tony Abbott witness the signing of the declaration of intent on the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement late last year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (rear) and then Australian prime minister Tony Abbott witness the signing of the declaration of intent on the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement late last year.

A sudden thaw in the protracted stand-off over the China-Australia free trade agreement has raised the prospects of the deal passing into law before the end of the year, prompting the swift deletion of up to $600 million in Chinese trade barriers favouring its local producers.

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