A consortium of European companies involved in the Customs and Forwarding industry has successfully tested a blockchain system that can eliminate the need for printed shipping documents and save the freight and logistics industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The consortium tested a method where documents are no longer exchanged physically or digitally, but […]
News
Speculation of New Fee on Low Value Imports
The Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) is considering whether every package imported into Australia should be hit with a new levy, to help cover the costs of screening items at the border. GST already applies for packages worth more than $1,000.00, but the Government’s plan would see shoppers having to shell out the extra charge […]
GST on Low Value Imported Goods
The Treasury Laws Amendment (GST Low Value Goods) Bill 2017 was passed into law in June 2017 amending the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law to give effect to the 2016-17 Budget decision to apply GST to low value (under $1,000) goods imported by consumers. Businesses treated as the suppliers of these goods will need […]
New U.S. Tariffs to Have Little Effect on Australia
Reports that US President Trump planned to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium sent Wall Street into a spin this week. Foreign governments are threatening to launch stiff retaliatory measures against the United States if they proceed with the proposal, with Canada, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico expected to bear […]
Weapons: The Next Big Thing in Exports
Australia is set to provide key military hardware to a global defence market with a $3.8 billion backing for exports announced this week by the Prime Minister. There is a broad range of products that Australian exporters could cater for, including troop-carriers, radar equipment, boats and aeroplane parts. The USA will boost its defence spending […]
Peru-Australia FTA Announced
Australia and Peru have signed a free trade pact worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Australian farmers and businesses, expected to deliver jobs and an extra $13.5 million to sugar cane farmers. Under the agreement, 99% of tariffs that Australians exporters face will be eliminated. The Prime Minister, who is in Vietnam for Asia-Pacific […]
How Domestic Security Measures Affect Imports
One of the most important developments this year for the Australian Border Force (ABF), as well as Australia’s national security more broadly, was the Prime Minister’s announcement on 18 July 2017 of the formation of a new Home Affairs portfolio. The Acting Commander for Customs Compliance Home Affairs portfolio, Stephen Hledik, this week outlined the […]
Requirements for Imported Wooden Articles
Under their changes to import conditions and documentary requirements for wooden manufactured articles, DAWR has issued clarification on the definition of export statements, i.e. date of treatment and date of export match. From 11 September 2017 consignments of manufactured wooden articles treated offshore by heat, fumigation or irradiation methods will be required to be exported […]
Definition of ‘Owner’ of Imported Goods
The department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and Australian Border Force (ABF)  have published Notice 2017/16 – containing advice to industry and owners/importers on the definition of ‘Owner’ contained in the Customs Act 1901. The Notice also outlines the broad compliance approach for the purposes of duty demands and revenue recovery under section 165 […]
Luxury Car Tax Threshold Increase
There will be an increase in the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold limit for the 2017-18 financial year. The LCT is a tax of 33% imposed on luxury cars over the luxury car tax threshold, which is indexed annually. LCT is generally payable when a car is sold or imported at the retail level. It […]
