Labor and Coalition reach agreement on China-Australia free trade deal

End to Chafta standoff follows government offer to amend migration regulations to ensure employers make genuine efforts to recruit local workers first

The Coalition and Labor have reached a deal to pass legislation for the China-Australia free trade agreement (Chafta), ending an intense political dispute in Canberra and clearing the way for tariff cuts before the end of the year.

The breakthrough follows the government's offer to amend migration regulations to ensure employers have made genuine efforts to recruit Australian workers before seeking them from overseas under a work agreement.

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