News

Australia Strengthens Digital Ties with EU

While Australia was unable to conclude an FTA with Europe last year, leaving the Kiwis to overtake us in 2024, we have managed to forge deeper ties on the digital economy. In a rapidly evolving digital world, the EU and Australia decided to resume their digital dialogue after a break due to the pandemic. The […]

New Date for Self Assessed Clearance Charges

The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has issued Import Industry notice 119-2024 titled: ‘June Update: Self-Assessed Clearances (SAC) cost recovery charge,’ dated 11 June 2024. It is for the attention of all customs brokers, freight forwarders and importers of goods AUD $1,000 or less in value. This follows on from the notice 58-2024 […]

Asian Port Congestion

Port congestion has returned to plague container markets, with Singapore being pinpointed as the current epicentre of the backlogs, according to a new report from Asian container consultancy Linerlytica. They note that berthing delays are now up to seven days at the world’s second largest container port, with the total capacity waiting to berth rising […]

Australian Export Milestones

Applications for the 62nd Australian Export Awards close Friday 14 June 2024. They are an invaluable experience for Aussie companies wanting to unlock new business opportunities and receive global recognition. Over more than six decades, the Australian Export Awards has recognised more than 2,000 Australian exporters who have achieved international success in diverse sectors, through […]

China Dismantles One of the Last Trade Barriers

China has lifted a ban on five of Australia’s biggest red meat exporters with “immediate effect”, Australia’s agriculture minister said Thursday, dismantling one of the last barriers in an easing trade dispute. “That is fantastic news for Australia’s cattle producers, for the meat processing industry, for the workers in those industries and, of course, for […]

Wind Propelled Ships Now a Reality

In late March 2024, there were 37 wind propulsion-installed vessels along with eleven wind-ready ships which have a combined total of 2.5 million dwt, the International Windship Association (IWSA) revealed. A critical mass of demonstrator ships is forming in the bulker, tanker, RoRo and general cargo segments, with developments in other ship segments accelerating, too. […]

Vapes Hidden in Containers of Commercial Goods

Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers need to be vigilant to a surge of illegal vapes being concealed in commercial shipments of clothing, machinery, cookware and furniture, originating from Asian ports. The Australian Border Force (ABF) has stopped almost 400,000 disposable vapes from entering Australia within a week in Sydney, in the largest single ‘at border’ […]

Maritime Safety on VGM

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has today issued the following notice: AMSA focus on shipper compliance with Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirements. (Friday, May 24, 2024). AMSA has a current focus in Victoria to ensure shippers of containers are accurately measuring verified gross mass (VGM) through one of the two accepted methods, and that […]

DAFF Introduces the AusTreat Scheme

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has announced an upcoming policy change. They are introducing a new pre-border treatment provider assurance scheme called AusTreat. AusTreat is a government-to-industry scheme that will replace the existing Offshore brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Treatment Provider scheme and set the conditions for the regulation of pre-border biosecurity […]

The Federal Budget and International Trade

The Federal Budget for 2024-25 was delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night (14 May). The Minister for Trade, Don Farrell has issued a media release jointly with Penny Wong (Foreign Affairs) and Pat Conroy (International Development and the Pacific) which draws attention to aspects of the Budget that will affect internal trade. International […]