Media Releases

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) clarifies it is not calling on the government to move policy responsibility for customs and visas to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but for this to be considered as an option.

‘Facilitating the smooth flow of goods and people is critically important for Australia’s international competitiveness’ said Lisa McAuley, CEO of the Export Council of Australia (ECA). ‘We need to ensure they are seen from an economic perspective, not just through a security prism.’

The Agreement means Australian exporters will benefit from new trade facilitation measures, such as reduced examination requirements and prioritised clearance, in Hong Kong.

“The signing of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is an important commitment for Australia and Hong Kong to co-operate on important economic and trade issues,” says Export Council of Australia (ECA) CEO Lisa McAuley. “This will improve trade-related opportunities between our two economies by addressing regulatory reform and easing trade facilitation for Australian companies moving goods through Hong Kong.”

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) welcomes the announcement of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Pacific Alliance, announced on Saturday by Minster for Trade, Tourism and Investment the Hon Steven Ciobo MP. “We are pleased that the government is seeking new opportunities for Australian companies in Latin America by enhancing and reinforcing Australia’s market access in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile,” says ECA CEO Lisa McAuley.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) welcomes the release of the 2017 Lowy Institute Poll.

‘There are a lot of positives to take away from this poll’ said Lisa McAuley, CEO of the ECA. ‘But it also highlights that the government and business leaders cannot take public support for granted.’

Australians expressed support for globalisation in record numbers, with 78 per cent saying it was mostly good for Australia. And two out of three Australians recognised that free trade benefited their standard of living and the Australian economy overall.

It was rather disappointing yesterday to find out that Australia has slipped from 17 to 21 in the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings, falling outside the top 20 nations for the first time since 1996.

Over four years ago, as part of the ECA’s 2013 Trade Policy Recommendations, the Export Council of Australia (ECA) highlighted the need for government to develop and prioritise policies that will result in a reduction of red and green tape, eliminating duplication and lowering the facilitation costs associated with trade. The goal was to ensure that Government was taking necessary steps to streamline regulation that inhibits the ability of Australian companies to compete internationally.

There are under 300 Australian businesses exporting more than $100 million of goods each year. This is less than 1% of all Australian businesses, yet they account for over 80% of Australia’s exports.

Moves to revive the Trans-Pacific Partnership are good news for Australia, which stands to gain significant economic benefits from the regional trade agreement.The TPP will deliver benefits for Australia by reducing barriers to trade in a wide range of goods and services and improving access to export markets in the Asia-Pacific.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) praises the trade-facilitating measures announced in the 2017-18 Budget, such as a long-term commitment to improve domestic infrastructure in Australia, and “business as usual” funding for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Measures such as these support efforts by Australian industry to engage in the global economy.

David Koch and Tim Harcourt will together be hosting a full-day conference in Shanghai during the lead up to the historic Port Adelaide match, focusing on how Australian business can do business in China.

The ECA is also pleased, along with a number of peak Australian business organisations have joined together to launch a fact sheet demonstrating the ways trade has made Australia more prosperous. The 10 Facts About Australian Trade fact sheet outlines benefits such as the average Australian family being up to $3900 better off each year as a result of trade and 2.7 million Australian jobs relying on trade.

If you are doing business with the US please find below important information that is critical to securing the future of your US export business.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) believes that with the right encouragement and tools, more Australian businesses, particularly Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), can take on and succeed in the world of international trade.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were more than 2.17 million actively trading businesses in Australia in June 2016, an increase of 2.4 per cent from June 2015, primarily driven by growth in small businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees).

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) warmly welcomes the conclusion of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations.

For developing countries in the region, prosperity can only come through the development of a strong private sector. With imports leading to a more competitive economy, and exports leading to stronger businesses that employ more people and pay higher wages, trade is crucial to developing a strong private sector.