The uptake by Australian exporters of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) has been slower than anticipated. 

To improve awareness of the benefits, the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) is working with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) to increase the uptake, especially in the critical North Asian markets of China, Japan and Korea.

During November, the CBFCA will be offering a series of workshops designed to provide information and education to both service providers and their export clients around the key areas of FTA utilisation. 

 

An Australian International Business Survey commissioned by the Export Council of Australia (ECA) in 2015 showed a range of reasons why FTAs were not being fully used including that many exporters are either not aware of FTAs and/or unsure how they could benefit their businesses.  There was also some concern expressed by exporters that they didn’t know how to comply with the requirements of the FTAs and therefore shunned their use despite market advantages to them of using the FTA. 

 

While service providers are well aware of the complexities of the FTAs and are across the requirements of, for example, Certificates of Origin and the required compliance documentation, bringing both service providers and their clients together in the one room allows exporters to see first-hand how FTAs operate and also how their service providers can assist them.

 

The workshops, presented by Andrew Hudson, Partner Rigby Cooke Lawyers and ECA director, will also include a presentation by representatives from Austrade. 

The Free Trade Agreement presentation will be preceded by a Legal Forum from Hudson which will provide up-to-date information about current legal issues in the international trade industry. 

 

Exporters coming as guests of their service providers are welcome to attend the workshops free of charge - and this includes the Legal Forum as well. Information on the workshop may be found on the CBFCA website.

Perth – Swan Yacht Club, Wednesday 15 November  0800 – 1000 hours

or go to http://www.cbfca.com.au/CBFCA/News/TNF/2017/TNF_2017_040.aspx

 

Any enquiries about the FTA workshops or the Legal Forum should be referred to the CBFCA via John Park, CBFCA regional manager. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0419 169 331.