Beijing has lodged an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). China joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) last year and is a principal sponsor of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The CPTPP groups eleven Asia-Pacific countries in a trade bloc: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, […]
In recent news posts we have reported on the container shortage which is affecting both importers and exporters here in Australia. The issue has been growing since the middle of last year. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough shipping containers in the world, it’s matter of imbalance – the empty containers are in the […]
The Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) has released its 2020/21 Sustainability Report, in which it “reaffirm(s) its commitment to sustainability and outlining its progress on actions and initiatives during the year.” Key achievements included in the report are a record 1.49 million TEUs (shipping containers) handled and 29.3 million overall tonnes of trade. Readers […]
[Image source: CNN] Media sources around the world are today reporting on the worsening power crisis in China and the impact it is about to have on the global supply chain. The energy supply problem has been put down to a mix of factors, including the price of coal and China’s ambitious carbon emission plan. […]
Image Source Credit: Today / 9News The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has launched industrial action at Patrick Terminals sites in Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. It is being reported today that Wharfies plan to strike in Sydney’s Port Botany next weekend and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Melbourne for the month of October. […]
New reporting and clearance processes for seafreight imports known as Gateway Clearance for Sea Cargo will come into effect from Friday 01 October 2021. This important change will allow the release of cleared sea cargo from customs control in the Port of Discharge, regardless of the final delivery destination, providing simplified options for traders to […]
Consumer Watchdog ACCC is examining international shipping and container costs which have risen some 300% in the past year, affecting all imported goods and hurting many Australian businesses. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has opened an investigation into international container shipping and handling, as costs have risen some 300% in the wake of […]
One of the unavoidable effects of ships sailing from port to port during a pandemic is that crew members become infected. Cases are handled differently among countries and states, but the outcome is always a delay in transit times. Over the past few months we have reported on the many and varied challenges facing international […]
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), has this week issued Industry Advice Notice (IAN) no. 187-2021: Commencement of the 2021-22 Brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB) risk season – 1 September. It is directed to the attention of Australian importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and shipping agents. For the 2021-22 BMSB risk season, seasonal […]
On Friday (27 August) the federal government announced a further $260.9 million in funding to extend the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) to mid-2022. This will give some breathing space to Australian export businesses that rely on airfreight while they adapt to the ongoing effects imposed on the international trade environment by the COVID pandemic. […]
