Australia, China sign landmark trade agreement

Canberra

AUSTRALIA and China signed a landmark trade deal on Wednesday after a decade of talks, providing a boon for growth and jobs by abolishing tariffs across a raft of sectors. Trade Minister Andrew Robb and visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng formally inked the document in Canberra, ending years of often difficult and protracted negotiations.

"The leaders of our two countries have attached great importance to the signing of this document," said Mr Gao. "It is a milestone in bilateral relations."