Georgia’s Parliament is considering amendments to the country’s free trade agreement with China that would add new chapters on investment and e-commerce while updating provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.
Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze said the changes are intended to align the agreement with modern economic realities and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. Negotiations on the amendments concluded in September 2025, and the updated agreement was signed on April 22, 2026.
The revised framework provides for the creation of a joint sanitary and phytosanitary subcommittee to facilitate information exchange, address technical issues, and reduce trade barriers. It also introduces updated mechanisms for cooperation on standards, conformity assessment, and regulation, aimed at easing access for Georgian products to the Chinese market.
For the first time, the agreement includes dedicated chapters on investment and electronic commerce. The investment chapter is designed to create a more predictable environment for investors, while the e-commerce provisions seek to support digital trade and create new opportunities for Georgian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The original free trade agreement between Georgia and China entered into force on January 1, 2018.
