Standards Australia and China’s peak standards development organisation have signed a major international covenant ensuring future standards development in each country will not stand in the way of free trade.

The agreement was signed in Canberra on 22 March by John Castles, chairman of Standards Australia and Liu Pingjun, administrator from the Standardization Administration of China.

The agreement was one of five signed in the presence of the Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peyan, Deputy Prime Minister; Mark Vaile, three other Cabinet Ministers; diplomats and Standards Australia CEO, John Tucker.

Tucker said this agreement recognises the important economic benefits of working on an international stage when developing standards for export manufacturing and services.

“This agreement will ensure China and Australia work hand in hand to develop standards that will allow Australian businesses to meet Chinese Standards requirements and vice versa,” he said.

“China is our second largest trade partner and over the next decade huge opportunities will continue to open up for Australian businesses.

“It is vital to Australian industry that standards requirements in both countries allow for free trade, that we can freely sell our goods and services into China’s booming economy and that exporters operating from China can better identify and meet Australian requirements for safe goods that are fit for purpose.”

Under the agreement, Australia and China’s peak standards development bodies will: notify each other of the standards that may cause significant influences on the trade between both countries; exchange national standards catalogues, information and experiences on standardisation; provide advice on technical regulations; engage in expert visits and academic exchange; carry out joint standards research projects; and collaborate in dealing with international Standards organisations.

Tucker, who laid the ground work for the agreement while in China last year, said Australia’s commercial relationship with China is expanding more rapidly than with any other major trading partner.