The world of International Trade is ever changing. You constantly need to be on top of compliance and regulatory changes, not only in Australia but overseas. To help ensure you keep on top of your requirements, the ECA publishes the authoritative guide to export, the Australian Export Handbook.

The ECA has highlighted to the government that changes to the temporary skilled work visas (457 visas) that adversely affect businesses, have the potential to disproportionately affect exporters.

Have you secured your first export contract? Do you need export finance to help deliver on it? Efic can help first time exporters with a range of loans, guarantees and bonds when your bank is unable to provide assistance.

US air cargo screening requirements now apply to all exports to the US from Australia. These requirements have been imposed by the US on all airlines carrying Australian air cargo to the US. The Australian Government has been working with Australian businesses over the last two years to help them comply and be ready for the change, while reducing red tape and enabling a smooth transition.

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.

Today I announce the launch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Australia and the Pacific Alliance - the Latin American trading bloc made up of Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia. Australia is one of the first countries to launch FTA negotiations with the Pacific Alliance.

Trade continues to underpin our nation’s prosperity as Australia’s total trade in goods and services reached a record $673 billion last year. Trade contributed 1.5 percentage points to overall growth of 2.4 per cent, while export growth was driven by an 8 per cent increase in volumes in 2016, according to the Composition of Trade, Australia 2016 report released today.

The preparation of export documentation can be confusing, time consuming, costly and prone to human error, and yet correct export documentation is vital for any exporter to transact business in an efficient and cost effective way. This one day course is aimed at companies looking to not only understand export documentation requirements, but also to train their staff in processing documentation correctly and efficiently.

Against the background of a weak and uneven recovery in the OECD economies versus relatively robust growth in fast-developing Asia, an interconnected global start-up landscape is taking shape in Hong Kong. The start-up ecosystem in Hong Kong is being supported by a number of government and private sector communities and I will focus this article on the two major government initiated incubation Programs and how they assist startups to grow and expand into mainland China and Asia.

Work to complete Australia’s accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) has intensified and is nearing final stages. The accessions of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to the Agreement are advancing steadily as well, informal discussions in the Committee on Government Procurement on 21 June 2017 have confirmed. The accession negotiations of Russia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia kicked off at the meeting.

This week I am visiting the United States and Colombia to advance trade, tourism and investment opportunities for Australia. Increasing Australia’s trade through new export opportunities and attracting fresh investment will help create new Australian jobs and drive economic growth.

Efic has recently launched an Export Line of Credit providing Australian small and medium exporters with access to a revolving line of credit and critical working capital when you need it.

I am pleased to announce the Board of Australia’s export credit agency, Efic, has appointed a new Managing Director, Ms Swati Dave. Ms Dave has more than 30 years’ experience in finance and banking across a range of sectors in both domestic and international markets.

Business Events leaders and members of the Business Events Council of Australia last week met with parliamentarians at the Business Events Meets Parliament bipartisan Friends of Tourism luncheon held at Parliament House. The event was attended by politicians from both sides of politics who engaged with the industry as they pitched the value of business events to Australia and described the competitiveness of the industry.

Addressing the theme of Innovation as Competition, Australia’s Asian Future Summit 2017, the Economist Events will bring together policymakers, leaders in regional and Australian business, academics and pioneering entrepreneurs to debate the role Australia can play in boosting Asia’s capacity for innovation. How can Australia compete with Asian countries that significantly outspend it in research and development (R&D)?

FIJI—The promise of e-commerce and digital trade is that can empower individuals and firms from anywhere to find customers, suppliers, and engage in trade globally. It has enabled the tiniest companies to become “micro-multinationals.” A first customer can literally be found across the world. But this promise is sometimes harder to implement than it first appears.

Book and pay by 31 July for any two August and September ECA courses, and qualify for a 10% discount on both. Book and pay for three or more August and September courses, and qualify for a massive 20% discount on each one! We have a range of courses from which to choose, including export, import and doing business in China.

The ECA wants to know how the changes to the temporary work visa (457 visa) may affect exporters. We have a short window of opportunity to tell the government specific occupations where, if the government tightens visa conditions as planned, it will cause problems for your business. Please respond by completing this short survey.

In less than a couple of weeks any Australian companies that is doing business with the US and shipping any products in via air then you need to be aware of important information that is critical to securing the future of your US export business.

Leaders of the Business Events industry have visited Canberra to engage with Federal Parliamentarians and senior departmental officials as part of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) Business Events Meets Parliament program, taking place today.

You are invited to a free lunch-time forum, ‘Opening Doors to Success: How International Students Can Help Your Business’, with addresses from notable speakers, including Karen Borg, CEO of Jobs for NSW, and the Hon. Patricia Forsythe, Executive Director of Sydney Business Chamber.

Tourists are spending record amounts in Australia. Today I release the latest National Visitor Survey which shows Australian tourists spent a record $61.7 billion for the year ending March 2017, an increase of $3.7 billion. Combined with the record spending of international tourists for the same period, up five per cent to $39.8 billion, total spending by tourists reached a new record of $101.6 billion.

From Brexit to Trump, political risk continues to be a growing concern in the global market. How resilient is the economy to the series of shocks? Which industries will be most impacted by these uncertainties? Where does this leave Australian exporters and more importantly how can you protect your exporting business and remain profitable while trading in this uncertainty?

Do you need access to export finance quickly? Efic’s Small Business Export Loan now provides you with even more flexibility and funds in as little as nine business days.

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation under Section 232(B) of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, to look into the national security implications of imported steel. While this may appear to be a purely domestic legal issue within the United States, it may have significant implications for Asian producers of steel and, indeed, for manufacturers of all types.

Following the Brexit referendum, this snap general election is the Tories’ second failed gamble in less than a year. On June 8th, PM Theresa May lost the best she has made by triggering an early election. Now left with a hung Parliament, a confidence and supply agreement has been concluded with the Democratic Unionist Party (10 seats), although the terms of the deal remain unclear. This unstable political situation only adds more uncertainty to the Brexit negotiations.

The word "fair" has increasingly re-entered the U.S. trade lexicon alongside its old mantra of "free" as US President Donald Trump seeks to do more to enforce or renegotiate trade agreements in the name of protecting traditional American jobs - particularly in manufacturing.

Registrations are now open for Australia Business Week in India 2017 (ABWI), an opportunity for Australian businesses to tap into the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

The Gulf is home to three goliath airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways, that share a keen relationship with Australia. After years of uninterrupted growth, the environment they operate in is shifting with persisting low oil prices, political instability and the rise of the low-cost airlines. AACCI, in conjunction with Clyde & Co and the NSW Government, invite you for a seminar with special guest, Mr Moin Anwar, Commissioner MENA, NSW Government.