CANBERRA, Nov. 10 (People's Daily Online) The Australian Senate on Monday passed legislation to enact the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). The agreement will enter into force when Australia and China have both completed domestic treaty-making processes.

Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb said Australian businesses were another step closer to realizing the enormous opportunities created by the Free Trade Agreement with China.

“The Government has worked hard to ensure this high-quality agreement with our biggest trading partner enters into force before the end of the year, and today’s vote marks a significant milestone in that process,” Mr Robb said.

“Entry into force this year will see an immediate round of tariff cuts, followed by a second round of cuts on 1 January 2016, allowing the benefits of the agreement with China to flow quickly through to Australian exporters and consumers.”

Following the vote, Mr Robb acknowledged the support of the opposition, which he said continued Australia's long-standing tradition of bipartisan support for freer trade.

The Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement) Bill 2015 and the complementary Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement) Bill 2015 passed the Senate after being approved by the House of Representatives on 22 October 2015.