Abstract
The movement of natural persons in the supply of services, otherwise referred to as “Mode 4”, is dealing with an issue that lies at the center of trade liberalization, migration control, and labor market development. People moving under mode 4 in fact participate in the local labor market when they supply services, and therefore are in competition with local suppliers. In this context, mode 4 commitments under ChAFTA provides an interesting case study on how culture can affect economic outcomes. Australia has committed market access for four specified occupations with Chinese characteristics: Chinese chefs, WuShu martial arts coaches, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and mandarin language tutors. A trade framework for cultural professionals/labors’ mobility provides one of the best ways for Chinese culture to reach different people. It is arguable that when such mode 4 trade occurs, China is actually exporting culture because a significant component of Chinese tradition is embodied in those cultural professionals/labors. The main body of this study will then assess the socio-cultural implications of the mobility of culture-oriented Mode 4 under ChAFTA.