Media Releases

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) welcomes the Coalition’s Trade and Investment Policy, and the positive response we believe it will receive, although the ECA believe that more funding and commitment will ultimately be required for Australian businesses to reach their full potential.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) has introduced an exciting new feature on its website that allows companies to report technical barriers they are facing in export markets. Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) are measures applied by countries, other than tariffs, which can restrict imports. They can include measures applied at the border including customs documentation and licence requirements, and measures applied behind the border such as technical regulations, standards and testing requirements.

In a landmark deal announced recently by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Trade Minister Steven Ciobo, Australia and Singapore will benefit from closer cooperation across a range of areas including defence, innovation and visa access.

Measures announced in the 2016 Budget will help Australian companies take advantage of the ever increasing global opportunities. Highlights from the trade perspective include funding to expand the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) FTA portal, the investment in expanding Australia’s trade and diplomatic footprint, and funding for the implementation of the Trusted Trader Program says the Export Council of Australia (ECA).

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) applauds the Australian Government’s Free Trade Agreement Training Provider Grants program and as one of Australia’s leading providers of International Trade Skills we are pleased to partner with the Australia China Business Council to help deliver aspects of this enterprising initiative.

The 2015 Australian International Business Survey stated that 34% of companies identified that China was the most demanded FTA for Australian companies. Now we have FTAs with China, Japan, and Korea in force, support for Australian businesses to navigate the agreements and obtain a complete understanding of the benefits is vital.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) applauds the range of connected measures introduced in the 2015 Budget that will help Australian companies take advantage of trade agreements and facilitate new international business opportunities. In recent years the ECA has been persistent in advocating on behalf of exporters and is pleased to now report progress across a number of trade and investment related issues that will ultimately work in their favour.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) welcomes the news this week that the government has amended Export Finance and Insurance Cooperation’s (Efic) lending ability to better support SME exporters. In its Trade Policy Recommendations to government, released in 2013, the ECA called for Efic’s capital resources to accurately reflect the demand for export finance and the agency’s level of risk exposure. The recommendations also called for Efic’s mandate to be amended to ensure the needs to the SME export community are adequately met.

The Export Council of Australia supports the amendments, passed by Parliament last week, made to the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, although says it is imperative that the Government finds the appropriate balance so that Australian exporters are not overburdened with regulation and costs that impede on their international competitiveness.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) and ANZ have today launched a website for Australian exporters, that simplifies the use of the 10 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed between Australia and other nations. The new “FTA Tool” (www.ftatool.com.au) is designed to help Australian exporters navigate the basics of Australia's FTAs quickly and easily. It also provides valuable information on doing international business, links to a range of resources and handy video tutorials on a variety of topics, including the Harmonised Code system and applying for certificates of origin.

Following on from last year's trifecta of Free Trade Agreements the Export Council of Australia (ECA) applauds the announcement today that Australia has officially launched its bid to join the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). This plurilateral agreement will offer Australian businesses legally-binding access to government procurement markets estimated at USD1.7 trillion.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) has released a compelling report that highlights the trade promotion activities offered by 10 of Australia's key export competitors including the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Singapore in a bid to encourage government to take a long-term, strategic approach to developing Australia’s International Trade. The Advancing Trade Development report provides a solid foundation for understanding best practice and illustrates that the case for trade promotion organisations (TPOs) has never been stronger.

Australian exporters will be putting up a fair fight on the world stage as our competitive edge shifts after RBAs 0.25 percent rate cut and a falling Australian dollar. Its welcome news with many industry sectors set to benefit says the Export Council of Australia. It will take some time to realise the benefits for those exporters who have hedged forward, however it is sure to instil more confidence and interest across a range of export sectors, for mining, agribusiness, and manufacturing, and for services like inbound students and tourism for example.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) fully supports the recommendations outlined today in the 2015 Review of the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme. Tabled in Parliament by Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb AO MP, the review concluded that the EMDG grants helped exporters create, develop and expand their markets overseas, something that the ECA has been championing on behalf of exporters for a number of years. There is a strong rationale and support for the EMDG scheme, which helps explain its existence for over 40-years despite significant changes to the political and economic landscape over that period.

Australian companies are positioned well to succeed in international markets due to the low Australian dollar and the multiple liberalising agreements reached with key trade partners although more can be done to ensure businesses are equipped to take advantage of new market opportunities says the Export Council of Australia (ECA). The ECA is today releasing its third annual Trade Policy Recommendations, which build on its 2013 and 2014 recommendations, as well as address issues critical to the G20 - particularly the B20 Trade Taskforce - and the Government’s recent inquiries into services exports and businesses’ utilisation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Eliminating tariffs on high-tech goods imported into Australia will encourage greater trade services in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector and therefore lead to higher employment levels, higher incomes, and higher standards of living says the Export Council of Australia. Chief Executive Officer Lisa McAuley says the agreement reached by the World Trade Organization (WTO) overnight in Nairobi is an absolutely fantastic step in the right direction and also aligns Australia’s recent “ideas boom” agenda to global trade opportunities.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) would like to congratulate the Queensland exporting businesses announced as National winners at the 53rd Australia Export Awards in Melbourne last night. Vying for one of 12 industry specific category awards all state and territory winners went on to compete for the top accolade - the prestigious Australian Exporter of the Year.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) would like to congratulate the New South Wales exporting businesses announced as National winners at the 53rd Australia Export Awards in Melbourne last week. Vying for one of 12 industry specific category awards all state and territory winners went on to compete for the top accolade - the prestigious Australian Exporter of the Year.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA), with partners the Australia-Korea Foundation and Austrade, is proud to launch our Demystifying Korea report – a project that examines service sector opportunity in Korea in light of the liberalisation introduced by the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA).

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) welcomes the release of the text for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Upon entering into force this agreement, combined with Australia’s recent North Asia trade agreements, will create important new opportunities for companies. Chief Executive Officer of the ECA Lisa McAuley says the agreement, which involves 12 Pacific Rim countries that range in size and level of economic development, covers a variety of matters across goods, services and investment.

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) is pleased the benefits from the China Australia Free Trade Agreement (CHAFTA) will commence, just in time for Christmas, and result in a significant economic boost for Australian exporters. CHAFTA entering into force will mean the government has completed a victorious year with a trifecta of deals closing Japan, Korea, and China, which account for 49 per cent of Australian exports.