Importing from China in 2026: what Australian businesses need to know
Australia-China trade relations have stabilised considerably with trade impediments affecting exports introduced between 2020 and 2022 removed. But the cost of getting goods into Australia continues to change. For Australian businesses importing from China, understanding where to find current information can make it easier to plan purchasing, calculate landed costs and identify potential compliance requirements. This guide provides general information about some of the key areas to consider and the Australian Government sources importers can use to check the requirements applying to their goods.
- Qualifying Chinese-origin goods have been eligible for zero Australian customs tariffs since 1 January 2019, provided the applicable rules of origin are met.
- All previous trade impediments affecting Australian exports to China had been removed by 20 December 2024.
- Anti-dumping and countervailing duties apply to certain imported products and can add significantly to their landed cost.
- A biosecurity cost recovery charge of $48 by air or $71 by sea now applies to every full import declaration over $1,000.
- Freight surcharges move independently of base freight rates and can change over time so published carrier information and quotes from freight providers should be checked.
Importing from China has changed in the last four years and involves more than the price quoted by the supplier. Customs classification, applicable trade agreements, GST, biosecurity, freight, product compliance and, for some goods, anti-dumping measures can all influence the total landed cost.
Here is where Australian businesses can find current information (as at 1 September 2026).
For many Australian importers, China remains an important source of manufactured goods because of its manufacturing capacity, established supply chains and broad supplier base.
China also remains Australia’s largest two-way trading partner. According to the Australian Federal Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), total two-way trade in goods and services was worth $326 billion in 2025, representing around a quarter of everything Australia trades with the world.
That relationship went through a difficult period from 2020, when China introduced trade impediments affecting Australian exports including barley, wine, beef, coal, cotton, timber and rock lobster.
DFAT reports that all trade impediments affecting Australian exports that were imposed between 2020 and 2022 had been removed by 20 December 2024.The direction now is toward widening the agreement rather than defending it.
The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) passed ten years in force on 20 December 2025. Australia and China signed a memorandum in July 2025 to review it, and that review is expected to conclude by the end of 2026.
The review is examining opportunities to improve or expand ChAFTA, including potential further liberalisation and market access.
China remains Australia's number one export destination and number one source of imports.
Australian Bureau of Statistics30 April 2026
ChAFTA came into force on 20 December 2015. From day one it set Australian tariffs to zero on 82% of Chinese goods entering Australia, and full elimination followed on 1 January 2019.
That does not mean every cost associated with importing a Chinese product is zero. Goods need to meet ChAFTA’s applicable rules of origin to receive preferential treatment, while GST, import processing charges, biosecurity charges and any applicable anti-dumping or countervailing duties are separate. [Guide to using ChAFTA to export or import]
Some ChAFTA tariff reductions continue through to 1 January 2029, but these relate to China’s tariff commitments on Australian exports rather than Australia's ChAFTA tariffs on Chinese-origin goods. [ChAFTA frequently asked questions]
Since 1 January 2022 there has also been a second option. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) is in force for both Australia and China, and may provide another pathway for establishing preferential origin. This can be particularly relevant where products incorporate qualifying materials sourced from other RCEP countries.
Because rules of origin differ between agreements, businesses can use the DFAT FTA Portal to look up a product by tariff classification and compare the applicable trade agreement requirements. [DFAT FTA Portal]
Australia has also been cutting tariffs on its own. Around 457 so-called nuisance tariffs were abolished on 1 July 2024, and a further 497 on 1 July 2026. That is almost a thousand in two years, covering about $23 billion of trade.
This is important because some goods may now have a general tariff rate of “Free”, meaning an importer may not need to rely on ChAFTA simply to obtain a zero customs tariff rate.
Duty-free does not necessarily mean paperwork-free. Importers still need to correctly classify their goods and maintain appropriate import records. Where preferential treatment under ChAFTA is claimed, the applicable origin documentation and supporting records must generally be retained for five years. [ChAFTA & certificates of origin]
Duty is often the smallest number in the calculation.
Goods valued over $1,000 will generally need a Full Import Declaration. Australia’s low-value imported goods GST rules primarily concern goods valued at $1,000 or less supplied to Australian consumers. The treatment for a particular business purchase depends on the circumstances of the transaction and the GST status of the parties.
For consignments over $1,000, expect the following:
- Import processing charge. $50 for an electronic declaration valued between $1,000 and $10,000, and $152 at $10,000 or more. Lodging on paper costs $90 and $192 respectively.
- Biosecurity cost recovery charge. $48 for air and $71 for sea, collected by the Australian Border Force on behalf of the agriculture department on every full import declaration over $1,000. These charges took effect from 1 July 2026 and may change as government fees and charges are updated.
- GST at 10% is generally charged on the value of the taxable importation. This includes the customs value of the goods, applicable customs duty, international transport and insurance costs and certain other amounts where relevant, including Wine Equalisation Tax for applicable products.
- An import permit, where DAFF requires one. This is a $135 application charge plus an assessment fee set by the category of the goods.
Biosecurity charges are indexed every 1 July, so treat any figure you build into a model as a moving one.
Government fees and charges can change, so the relevant agency website provides the most current figure when preparing an import cost estimate.
Fees and charges current as at 1/9/2026 [ATO — GST on low value imported goods | ABF: Import Processing Charge page | DAFF: Charges for import permits]
This is the biggest change over the last four years.
Most goods imported from China are not automatically subject to anti-dumping measures. However, Australia has anti-dumping and countervailing measures applying to a range of specified products, including some products imported from China.
Dumping occurs when goods are exported to Australia at a price lower than the price charged in the exporting country. Countervailing duties can apply where imported goods have benefited from certain government subsidies.
Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commission administers the system. [Statement of expectations for the Anti-Dumping Commission | Statement of intent from the Anti-Dumping Commission]
Importantly, anti-dumping and countervailing duties are separate from normal customs tariffs. They can therefore still apply even where goods otherwise receive a zero tariff under ChAFTA or another free trade agreement.
The Australian Border Force notes that, in some cases, dumping and countervailing duties can be greater than the value of the imported goods.
Current Australian measures involving goods exported from China include products such as a 10% anti-dumping duty imposed on steel ceiling frames from China. while the Anti-Dumping Commission also has current investigations and reviews involving Chinese goods.
During an investigation, the Anti-Dumping Commission may require securities on affected imports, while retrospective duties can apply in limited circumstances.
Country of origin also matters. Sending goods through another country does not necessarily change their origin, which depends on applicable rules and the processing undertaken. [How claims of dumped and subsidised goods are investigated]
Because measures and investigations change, the most useful source for an importer to check before committing an order is the Anti-Dumping Commission’s Dumping Commodity Register.
Freight has shifted from a pandemic problem to a structural one.
A base freight rate therefore does not necessarily represent the total cost of moving the goods.
Additional charges can include:
- bunker or fuel adjustments
- emergency bunker surcharges
- peak-season surcharges
- terminal or port charges
- documentation and handling charges.
Carriers and freight providers publish their own applicable tariffs and surcharges, while freight forwarders can provide quotes showing the individual components applying to a shipment.
Two other costs that can arise are:
- storage, once applicable free storage time at a terminal or facility expires
- container detention, where an empty container is not returned within the carrier’s agreed free period.
These arrangements vary by carrier, terminal and shipment.
For businesses importing regularly, the timing of supplier payments can also affect working capital.
A supplier may require payment before or at shipment, while an Australian business may not receive payment from its own customers until weeks after the goods arrive and are sold.
That timing difference is commonly referred to as the working capital or trade-cycle gap.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) states that businesses do not need an import licence to bring goods into Australia. Some goods, however, are prohibited or restricted, while others require permits, approvals or compliance with specific conditions. [ABF — importing requirements page].
The ABF’s prohibited and restricted goods information provides a starting point for checking whether additional requirements may apply to a particular product.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) runs the Biosecurity Import Conditions system, known as BICON. It can be used to check:
- whether goods are permitted into Australia
- whether biosecurity conditions apply
- whether treatment or supporting documentation is required
- whether an import permit is needed.
Where a permit is required, applications can also be lodged and managed through an online registered account. [BICON agriculture.gov.au]
Guidelines state the importer is responsible for making sure the goods meet Australian product safety standards, labelling and certification requirements. Goods that need a trade description must carry a true description in English. The importer is also responsible for making sure the goods do not infringe copyright or trademarks.
Because requirements depend heavily on the type of product, the ABF, ACCC Product Safety website, DAFF, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and other relevant regulators provide product-specific information.
Importing can create a timing gap between when an overseas supplier needs to be paid and when an Australian business receives cash from selling the goods.
OctetTrade is a revolving Trade Finance facility designed to help bridge that gap. It allows approved businesses to pay eligible domestic or international suppliers upfront, with up to 120 days to repay and up to 60 days interest free.
Funding is based on the strength of the business’s balance sheet, with facilities able to be structured without personal or director security, subject to eligibility and assessment.
For importers, this can provide several benefits:
Preserve working capital: retain more operating cash between ordering stock and receiving customer payments, rather than funding the full supplier payment upfront.
Increase purchasing flexibility: place larger orders, respond to growth opportunities and negotiate supplier payment terms with greater confidence.
Access early settlement opportunities: paying suppliers earlier may allow businesses to take advantage of discounts where offered.
Manage other importing costs: preserving operating cash can provide greater capacity to meet freight, customs, biosecurity and unexpected supply-chain expenses.
Pay international suppliers: approved supplier invoices can be paid in multiple currencies through the Octet platform.
Suppliers paid through the Octet Supply Chain Platform undergo onboarding and compliance checks before transactions are processed.
Octet verifies suppliers and transaction details to help reduce fraud, errors and regulatory risks, while its platform manages transaction approvals for buyers and suppliers.
Octet also operates across Australia and China, supporting businesses trading with international suppliers.
The Supply Chain Management tool supports international payments and Chinese-language functionality, helping Australian businesses and Chinese suppliers manage transactions in their preferred language.
Trade finance can provide businesses with greater working capital flexibility while funding eligible supplier payments and managing the gap between purchasing stock and receiving customer revenue.
Explore the OctetTrade Finance solution and see how it can support your next order from China.
Published on 1 September 2026. This guide is general information only. Import requirements vary according to the goods, their origin, value and the circumstances of the transaction. The relevant government agency, licensed customs broker, freight forwarder or other qualified specialist can provide information specific to an individual shipment.
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Disclaimer: The above article content and comments are our views and should not be construed as advice. You should act using your own information and judgment. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions and estimates constitute the author’s own judgment as at the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.