News

China Hosts WCO Global AEO Conference

On 08 May 2024, the 6th WCO Global AEO Conference was launched in Shenzhen, China, by the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Mr. Ian Saunders. This event, lasting three days, was themed “Harnessing the Power of AEO Programmes for Inclusive and Sustainable Global Trade.” The conference attracted over 1,200 attendees from 108 […]

CMA CGM Welcomes Olympic Flame

The vessel CMA CGM Greenland took part in the grand nautical parade around the arrival of the Olympic Flame at the port of Marseille on Wednesday 08 May. The torch for the 2024 Paris Olympics arrived amidst tight security and much fanfare onboard a historic tall ship. The CMA CGM Greenland, a 15,000 TEU boxship […]

Demand for Pallets Falls

When it comes to both cargo pallets and empty shipping containers, ever since the start of the Covid pandemic four years ago we have found ourselves reporting variously on their shortage, oversupply or – more commonly – being situated in the wrong location to where they are needed. The latter case became most apparent as […]

STS Consultation Closes on 06 May

The consultation on the Simplified Trade System (STS) which opened on 09 April is about to close on 06 May. The STS Implementation Taskforce is working in partnership with the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to deliver the STS reforms, as well as consulting with other federal, […]

Record Quantities of Vape Imports Busted

Since new vape import regulations took effect on 01 January 2024, the Australian Border Force (ABF) has stopped hundreds of thousands of illegal disposable vapes and vape products from entering the Australian community. In two separate manoeuvres during April, ABF officers in Brisbane seized more than 80,000 vape devices, while in Melbourne a joint operation […]

Port of Brisbane Presents 4 Scenarios

Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) has this week released its Beyond Tomorrow Discussion Paper that presents four scenarios for the Port of Brisbane in 2060. Developed after a year-long programme of research by its project partners, Beyond Tomorrow sets out four possible scenarios and invites the Port’s customers, stakeholders and the community to provide […]

Ukraine Tariff Relief Extended

The Australian Government will extend tariff relief on Ukrainian goods by another two years to support the war-torn nation in its efforts against Russia’s invasion. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Trade Minister Don Farrell announced in a joint media release on Friday the duty exemption will remain effective until 03 July 2026 for goods produced and […]

WSC 2024 Report on Container Pests

On 11 April the World Shipping Council released the 2024 update of the Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers, previously published in 2023, which has become a valued source of guidance when it comes to preventing pest contamination. The latest version provides further detail on the concept of custodial responsibility – the inspections […]

Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment

Commonwealth, State and Territory Trade and Investment Ministers met in Perth on 11 April 2024 for the third meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment. The full text from the meeting may be read at: ‘Communique – Third Meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment.’ The following excerpts highlight a few […]

Taking Planes Out of Their Desert Hibernation

Four years ago in April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and global air travel ground to a halt, a number of airlines started flying their aircraft to desert storage in outback Australia, with Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS) in Alice Springs chosen as their temporary home, for what at the time was an […]