The Australian Border Force (ABF) has issue ACN No. 2020/26: “Customs Duty rate reductions 1 July 2020.â€
It covers, in part: Duty rate reductions under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement.
Australia has committed to progressively reducing the rates of customs duty on eligible Japanese originating goods under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA). In accordance with this commitment, the fourth reduction of customs duty rates has occurred and these changes have commenced in the Integrated Cargo System. The reduction of duty rates affected the following goods:
- Textile floor coverings
- Apparel and clothing accessories
- Footwear
- Orthopaedic footwear
(Note: phasing rates do not affect the import restrictions and border controls for prohibited goods as regulated by the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956).
The agreement came into force in January 2015 and a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support the decision to endorse the signing of the JAEPA. As this regulatory change was assessed as being highly significant, the Government required a Post-implementation Review (PIR) to be completed within five years of the agreement being implemented.
In line with these requirements, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade submitted a PIR of the JAEPA to Office of Best Practice Regulation in December 2019, ahead of the January 2020 deadline. The PIR was assessed as compliant by Office of Best Practice Regulation.
The PIR shows JAEPA has, to date, met its broad objective of expanding economic opportunities for Australian businesses and consumers through a closer economic partnership with Japan, and that its implementation has been effective and efficient.
The overall conclusion is that JAEPA has delivered a net benefit in the five years since its entry into force, and will continue to do so in the future with the ongoing implementation of the Agreement.Â
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