For Australian brands, all three sourcing countries now have a preferential route: Indian goods have entered duty-free on every tariff line since 1 January 2026 under the India–Australia ECTA, Chinese goods use ChAFTA, and Vietnamese goods use CPTPP, AANZFTA or RCEP. With duty largely equal, the decision comes down to factory capability, compliance evidence and freight.
As of 28 September 2026. Checked against official sources.
The India–Australia ECTA has applied since 29 December 2022, and from 1 January 2026 all Australian tariff lines are zero-duty for Indian-origin goods.
China uses the China–Australia FTA (and RCEP); Vietnam uses CPTPP, AANZFTA or RCEP. Australia also abolished almost 500 “nuisance” tariffs on 1 July 2024.
Compliance is where shipments get stopped: ACCC mandatory standards, EESS/RCM for electrical goods, and zero tolerance for asbestos at the border.
As of 28 September 2026. Every rate depends on the product’s HS code, so treat this as the map and check your own codes before you order.
India–Australia ECTA in force since 29 December 2022. From 1 January 2026, 100% of Australian tariff lines are zero-duty for Indian-origin goods.
Claim with ECTA proof of origin; the goods must meet the ECTA rules of origin.
The China–Australia FTA gives preferential, mostly zero, rates on Chinese-origin goods with a valid origin claim. RCEP is an alternative route.
Anti-dumping measures apply to specific Chinese products; check them before ordering steel, aluminium and some building products.
Three agreements cover Vietnamese goods; importers use the one whose rules of origin the product meets.
All Australian tariff lines at zero for Indian goods from 1 January 2026.
Preferential rates for Chinese-origin goods with origin evidence.
Three preference routes for Vietnamese goods.
Almost 500 low-revenue tariffs abolished.
Model it for your product: Find the HS code Compare landed cost
Australia’s rules are enforced at the border and in the market; the evidence has to exist before the goods arrive.
Toys for children up to 36 months, products containing button or coin batteries, and dozens of other product types must meet mandatory standards, many of which reference AS/NZS or international standards. Suppliers must be able to show compliance.
Products containing button or coin batteries need secure battery compartments, compliance testing and warnings under the mandatory safety and information standards.
In-scope electrical equipment must carry the RCM, the responsible supplier (an Australian or New Zealand business) must be registered on the national database, and higher-risk equipment must be registered with a certificate of conformity.
Goods containing asbestos are prohibited imports. Importers must be able to show that goods do not contain asbestos; this is a known risk for building products, gaskets and some mineral-based goods.
Wooden pallets and crates need biosecurity-compliant treatment and marking; ask your supplier for ISPM 15-marked wood packaging.
Indicative port-to-port planning ranges, not a carrier schedule. Transhipment, blank sailings and routing change them; confirm with the carrier at booking.
Direct services
Usually transhipped at Colombo, Singapore or Port Klang
Transhipped in South-East Asia
Because duty is at or near zero from all three countries, quality, compliance evidence and lead time decide most sourcing moves for Australian brands.
Running both? Plan a China + 1 second source
Our teams in Bengaluru and Ningbo find, audit and inspect factories for Australian brands buying from India and China, and collect the evidence your market asks for.
Named manufacturers in India and China, checked by calls, matched to Australian requirements.
Factory price, freight, duty and taxes side by side, so you compare lanes, not quotes.
Find the likely HS code first; every duty rate on this page depends on it.
Rules of origin checked at the factory, up to 5 HS lines, so your zero-duty claim is defensible.
In-line, pre-shipment and loading inspections by our own team in India and China.
The Australian rules above turned into a supplier evidence list, collected at the factory.
Checked on 28 September 2026 and refreshed monthly. Official government, customs and EU sources first; commentary is named as such. This page explains the rules in plain English. For a view on your own products, ask our team or your customs broker.
Checked on 28 September 2026. We update this guide when duties or rules move.
anirudh@sourcesquid.coYes. Under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), all Australian tariff lines have been zero-duty for Indian-origin goods since 1 January 2026, provided the goods meet the ECTA rules of origin and the claim is supported by proof of origin.
Chinese-origin goods can use the China–Australia FTA or RCEP, which give preferential, mostly zero, rates with a valid origin claim. Anti-dumping or countervailing duties can still apply to specific products such as some steel and aluminium goods.
On FOB. International freight and insurance are not part of the Australian customs value. GST of 10% is then charged on the value of the taxable importation, which includes duty and freight.
In-scope electrical equipment must carry the RCM under the Electrical Equipment Safety System, the responsible supplier must be registered, and higher-risk equipment needs registration with a certificate of conformity.
As a planning range, about 14 to 22 days from Ningbo or Shanghai to Sydney or Melbourne on direct services. From India’s west coast, allow about 25 to 35 days with transhipment.
Send one drawing, photo or quote. We return the process chain, the right clusters in India and China, and a landed-cost comparison for your market.