Trade Minister Simon Crean hit the airwaves on Monday selling the agreement, saying that by 2020 the deal would "eliminate tariffs on 96 per cent of our current exports to ASEAN nations".

This included:

• The immediate elimination of a 10pc tariff on $9.6 million of Australian processed cheese exports (in 2008) to Malaysia;

• The immediate elimination of a 5pc tariff on $7.2 million of exports of fresh grapes to Malaysia;

• The immediate elimination of a 3pc tariff on $22 million of wheat exports to the Philippines; and

• The immediate elimination of a 5pc tariff on $3 million of sheepmeat exports to The Philippines.

But Mr Truss says the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement is a bad deal for Australia.

"This free trade agreement is an alarming example of what Labor is prepared to concede to get a seat at a treaty signing ceremony," Mr Truss said.

Mr Truss said that from January 1 tariffs on 96.4pc of Australian imports from ASEAN countries were reduced to zero, while Australian exporters would have to wait years for similar terms.

"Under the deal, three ASEAN countries will have only 5pc of their tariffs at zero now and one will have none at zero before 2013," Mr Truss said.

"All food and agricultural products entering Australia from ASEAN countries will be tariff-free but Australia’s exports to ASEAN will continue to face steep tariff barriers for decades.

"Many ASEAN tariffs will never be removed.

"Tariff reductions under AANZFTA are in some instances less than Thailand had already implemented in the free trade agreement between Australia and Thailand negotiated by former Coalition trade minister Mark Vaile.

"Australian products will continue to be penalised by tariffs on arrival, further damaging our meagre market share in the region.

"Access for citrus into Indonesia was identified as a key priority for Australia following the imposition of punitive tariffs in 2005. But these tariffs will remain on Australian citrus until a small reduction probably in 2028.

"The flood of imports from Asia, coupled with Labor’s new industrial relations laws which also begin this week, are likely to devastate what is left of Australia’s food processing industries."