Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Trade & Investment Council Ministers Hold Fifth Meeting
1 Commonwealth, State and Territory Trade and Investment Ministers met on the lands of the Larrakia people at Parliament House in Darwin, Northern Territory on 13 August 2025 for the fifth meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment.
2 Amid challenges in the global trading landscape, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the open, rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. They acknowledged stable and transparent international trade and foreign investment are critical for delivering economic security and prosperity for Australia and its economic partners. They reaffirmed that safeguarding this required a whole-of-nation effort.
3 Ministers acknowledged the importance of Australia’s leadership in multilateral and regional trade forums in upholding the rules, norms and standards which underpin global trade, including commitment to continuing efforts to strengthen and reform the WTO, and to drive sustainable trade and resilient growth as Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year.
4 In the face of global trade uncertainty, Ministers acknowledged tariffs harm domestic economic competitiveness and are a recipe for slower growth and higher inflation. They reaffirmed their support for implementation of the Australian Government’s five-point plan to drive efforts to expand market reach and enhance resilience:
a) strengthen Australia’s anti-dumping regime;
b) provide $50 million to affected sectors, particularly through peak bodies;
c) establish a new Economic Resilience Program through Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund;
d) prioritise Australian-made products; and
e) establish a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
5 Ministers welcomed progress in developing stronger and more diverse trade partnerships for all Australians, including:
a) entry-into-force later this year of the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA);
b) discussions towards concluding a Australia-European Union free trade agreement including commercially meaningful market access for Australian agriculture;
c) discussions towards concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India;
d) review of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA);
e) entry-into-force in April of the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA);
f) review of Australia’s bilateral FTAs in Southeast Asia to identify priorities for utilisation, modernisation and potential upgrade negotiations and the general review of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA); and
g) review of the CPTPP and progressing Costa Rica’s accession to the Agreement.
6 Ministers also welcomed the new Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India and committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation of Commonwealth, State and Territory trade and economic efforts to promote Australian goods and services in India.
7 Ministers recognised the early outcomes flowing from implementation of key initiatives under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the contribution all States and Territories can make to boosting two-way trade and investment with Southeast Asia.
8 Ministers welcomed participation from all jurisdictions at the World Expo 2025 Osaka.
9 Ministers confirmed the outcomes of coordinated initiatives on national trade and investment including:
a) a calendar of Team Australia events in 2025-26 that align with shared priorities and represent a mix of trade and investment promotion activities;
b) release of the National Statement on First Nations Trade and Investment by endorsing jurisdictions; and
c) continuation of a data project providing States and Territories with new information on businesses engaged in goods exports in their jurisdictions.
10 Ministers’ tour of key sites across Darwin Harbour, including the Ship Lift Project, Marine Industry Park and Middle Arm Precinct, highlighted how government and industry are working together to deliver strategic infrastructure, strengthen sovereign capabilities, and position the Northern Territory as a hub for sustainable growth and investment.
11 Ministers looked forward to meeting again in six months to review progress and future priorities.
https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don-farrell/media-release/communique-fifth-meeting-ministerial-council-trade-and-investment