Australian Trusted Trader


The following information has been provided by the Australian Border Force and is forwarded for your attention.

"ATT presentation for businesses

The ATT team has produced a presentation that you can use to inform your colleagues about ATT. The presentation outlines the objectives of ATT and the benefits for businesses joining.  The presentation is available on the Department’s website.

Case studies on Australia’s first Trusted Traders

There are now five accredited Trusted Traders. These are Teys Australia Beenleigh Pty Ltd, Target Australia Pty. Ltd., Techwool Trading Pty. Ltd., Pacific Brands Holdings Pty Ltd, IBM Australia Ltd, and IKEA Supply AG. To promote the positive impacts of ATT on Australian businesses, a series of video case studies on accredited Trusted Traders are being filmed. The first two cases studies, Teys Australia and Pacific Brands, are now available to view on the Department’s website.

International Engagement

Global awareness

The Director of ATT Headquarters travelled to Brussels, Belgium and London during October 2016 to generate greater global awareness of the ATT programme.  This included attendance at the World Customs Organization review of the SAFE Framework of Standards; on which international trade facilitation programmes such as ATT are based.

This representation assists the ATT team in progressing a number of initiatives including the signing of Mutual Recognition Arrangements with key trading countries such as China and Singapore over the coming months. To further strengthen this engagement, Director ATT Headquarters will also represent the Department at the European Union Authorised Economic Operator Workshop in Slovakia in November 2016.

Mutual Recognition Arrangements

The economic benefits of ATT are likely to expand significantly over the next 12 months as Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) with China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Canada and Thailand progress.

MRAs enable Trusted Traders to access trade facilitation benefits in Australia’s key trading partner countries. MRAs are a significant benefit that will result in a reduction in regulatory burden, and allow Trusted Traders faster clearance when exporting overseas.

In July 2016, the Department signed its first MRA with the New Zealand Customs Service. It is anticipated that by 2020, the MRA will facilitate up to $3 billion of New Zealand imports to Australia and $7.5 billion of Australian exports to New Zealand.

Future MRAs are likely to provide similar economic benefits for Australian traders and the economy.

Events

Australian Export Awards

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is sponsoring Austrade’s 54th Australian Export Awards which is being held in Brisbane on 24 November 2016. Ms Linda Geddes, First Assistant Secretary Traveller, Customs and Industry Policy Division in the Department will present the Digital Technologies Award on behalf of the ABF.

The award is one of 12 export award categories that recognise businesses for their export achievements and contribution to the economy. One of the category winners will go on to be named Australian Exporter of the Year.

Export Council of Australia Awards

Representatives from ATT, the ABF and the Department attended the Premier's Export Awards presentation dinners in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth on 20, 26 and 28 October 2016 respectively.

These events provide invaluable opportunities to network with current and potential Australian Trusted Traders. 

Representatives who attended the ECA dinner in Brisbane on 20 October 2016 were: Meg Reid, Sarah Macdonald, Tim Sheppard, Claire Marshall, Kim Simmat, Sophil Raja, Genevieve Watson and Nick Humphries.

We congratulate Evolve Skateboards on winning the ABF’s sponsored award of Regional Exporter of the year.

Programme update

Since its successful launch on 1 July 2016, more than 380 businesses have submitted an expression of interest to join ATT. Interested businesses are encouraged to apply via the Department’s website today to secure their place in the queue. If you have any questions about the application process, please email [email protected].

SAQ workshops

During October 2016, the Department hosted a number of ATT industry workshops to provide interested businesses with further information on the next steps in the application process.

This included detailed discussion on completing the self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) and how they will be assessed when applying. Further workshops will be made available in the future."