FTA Weekly Report 2016/51 - sponsored by ANJ Container Services

Tuesday, December 20, 2016
FTA WEEKLY REPORT 2016/51

Sponsored by ANJ Container Services

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Wishing you a wonderful Christmas

Dear FTA and APSA members - just a quick note to wish you and your families a safe and very merry Christmas - we hope that Santa is good to you all ! 

We will be here during the festive season if you want some cheer or any operational updates - call us on 02 99751878 or info@FTAlliance.com.au

best regards Rob, Caroline, Trav and Paul

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

ANJ will also be open for storage and LCL load out over the Xmas period

REMINDER - Illegal Logging 

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE- 12.30 AEDST FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER 2016

The Australian Government has released the final report of the "Independent review into the impacts of the illegal logging regulations on small business" undertaken by KPMG.   
 
The review drew on the information and stakeholder insights available at the time the report was prepared, and assessed whether the existing due diligence requirements strike an appropriate balance between the cost of compliance for small businesses and the risk of illegally logged timber entering the Australian market. The government has also released its response to the review, which accepts in principle the review's five recommendations and commits to progressing all of the regulatory elements of the recommendations through a suitable Regulation Impact Statement process.
 
Copies of the KPMG report and government response, in both pdf and word formats, can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' illegal logging webpage: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/forestry/policies/illegal-logging/small-business-impacts-review      
 
The accompanying media release can be found at: http://minister.agriculture.gov.au/ruston/Pages/Media-Releases/independent-report-into-illegal-logging-regs.aspx
 
Any questions about the review or the government response can be directed to the Department via its illegal logging email – illegallogging@agriculture.gov.au
 
Paul Zalai - FTA

Trade Facilitation Agreement to provide trade boost

 
The economic gains of reducing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade far exceed any reductions in tariff regimes. So, at a time when anti-trade sentiment is high, with the Trans-Pacific Partnership fighting for life and other examples of Trumponomics at play, the Trade Facilitation Agreement could play a big role in stimulating two-way trade in our region.
 
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement is the first multi-lateral agreement to be concluded since the creation of the World Trade Organisation in 1995 and its potential impact cannot be understated. Like many countries, Australian industry is a victim of NTB measures, particularly with our reliance on agri-exports, and some work has been done to quantify this impact. A report from the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) found that NTBs now cost the Australian red meat industry $3.4 billion a year, or 15% of the red meat industry's gross domestic product. In 2014 Dairy Australia commissioned a report on technical barriers to trade and estimated the impact to the dairy sector at $1.57 billion annually.
 
But it is not just about border clearances.  Customs is often not the issue. For our dairy export industry, the cost of compliance, also called the cost of conformity, is the biggest headache and used by importing countries as a barrier to trade. These include product/factory registrations, quite common in China, where exporters are required to register their products and factories, and where delays in registration, paperwork and discretionary charges are used to control the flow of goods. Similarly, with permits and import licenses which are used by some countries outside the WTO Quota Regime. In some countries, licenses are only issued a couple of times a year and exporters are at the mercy of authorities to grant the licenses before goods can be shipped.
 
One member of the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), one of Australia's largest dairy producers, has rightfully asked why some countries insist on importers to work with Letters of Credit as a means of controlling Forex flow. At times Letters of Credit are withheld creating major disruptions in the trade chain. They posed the question- " We have trust in customers that we will get paid and they trust us that we can ship the goods if they pay us with open account, so why is this slowed down with regulations?"
 
As a signatory to the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, Australia has committed to major reductions in administrative and documentation processes at the border. These includes programs like the Australian Trusted Trader (referred to as an Authorised Economic Operator Programme in the Agreement) and the Single Window for trade, which has been proposed as a replacement to the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) once that system reaches its expiry date.
 
Australia has also established an Aid for Trade Programme, with a multilateral trade flagship, the Global Trade Integration Facility (GTIF), established in July, 2014.  The GTIF is designed to help developing countries improve their participation in the global trading system, expand their trade flows, and empower women. While relatively new, GTIF investments are beginning to make an impact, particularly in the Pacific region.
 
For some countries, particularly in the Pacific, maritime and transport costs remain a major barrier. The United Nations Review of Maritime Transport 2015 report found that "developing countries, especially in Africa and Oceania, pay 40 to 70  per cent more on average for the international transport of their imports than developed countries." On the 13th of December Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) hosted a global conference on the Trade Facilitation Agreement and this certainly emerged as a strong theme. The impact of the Giant African Snail (GAS) and Australia's tough biosecurity regime were also identified by the Pacific Island delegates as a major barrier to trade in the region.

For more information on the Trade Facilitation Agreement and related reforms please visit the FTA website ... read more 


Travis Brooks-Garrett - FTA

PICTURE - Travis Brooks-Garrett (FTA / APSA) sharing insights with industry colleagues and the Hon. Keith Pitt (Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment) at last weeks World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Reform: A Business and Government Partnership conference.

IMPORTS - Replacement of Commerce (Imports) Regulations 1940

 

On 12 December 2016, the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Regulation 2016 were published on the Federal Register of Legislation and are due to come into effect on 1 April 2017 - please refer to the detail at Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Regulation 2016

EXPORTS - ChAFTA Certificates of Non Manipulation (CNM) 

Freight & Trade Alliance representatives recently met in Canberra with representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). An issue raised by DFAT was in terms of ChAFTA CNMs for exporting from Australia to China. Following our meeting, DFAT has prepared the following information for the reference our members and for dissemination to the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF).
 
DFAT has become aware that some exporters are being asked to source (and pay for) a certificate of non-manipulation (CNM) when using the China-Australia FTA (ChAFTA), if their exports are being transhipped through a third country on their way to China. However, as is made clear from the text of the FTA (excerpt below), to receive the benefit of lower ChAFTA tariffs, a CNM may not be required in every instance when goods are transhipped.
 
ChAFTA Article 3.13 (Direct Consignment), paragraph two, outlines the following conditions with regard to transhipment:
 
"…an originating good transported through one or more non-parties, with or without trans-shipment or temporary storage in such non-parties, shall retain its originating status, provided that:
 
(a)     the good remains under customs control in those non-parties;
 
(b)     the good does not undergo any operation there other than unloading and reloading, repacking, re-labelling for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of the importing Party, temporary storage or any operation required to keep them in good condition; and
 
(c)     in cases where the good is temporarily stored in the territory of a non-party, as provided in paragraph 2 of this Article, stay of the good in that non-party shall not exceed 12 months from the date of its entry."
 
The Chinese authorities have released implementing decrees to cover these issues. Unofficial translations of the relevant documents are available here: http://dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/chafta/fact-sheets/Pages/guide-to-using-chafta-to-export-and-import-goods.aspx. These documents indicate that if the bill of lading shows – on the same page - an Australia port of departure and Chinese port of arrival, additional documentation from the Customs Authority of the third party/transit country will not be required.
 
While China customs is entitled to request further documentation if it believes more information is required to confirm that goods retain origin, this should not be the rule. Freight forwarders and exporters should give thought to whether it is worth incurring the cost of CNM as a matter of course when goods are transhipped to China via a third party.
 
Further information about ChAFTA is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's ChAFTA website on our ChAFTA Frequently Asked Questions page, and as attachments to our Guide to Using ChAFTA to Export and Import. This last webpage has unofficial translations of specific Chinese/Hong Kong regulations pertaining to this issue.
 
DFAT short-form guide to using FTAs (helpful for clients and non-trade experts)
In our teleconference of 2 September 2016, DFAT noted their intention to produce a short-form guide on using FTAs/obtaining COOs, to seek to fill an information gap around this issue for clients of NCTF member organisations. I have attached a PDF copy and a link to the document. It may be that members can include it with the Shipping Letter of Instructions (or similar)to their customers. This will help to ensure that people understand the steps they need to take to benefit from the north Asia FTAs.
 
Tariff cuts occurring on 1 January 2016
As you would be aware, the next round of tariff cuts for ChAFTA and KAFTA will occur on 1 January 2017. We note this now as advising your clients may assist them to determine shipping decisions to take advantage of these cuts after 1 January.
 
If you have any queries in relation to these matters please contact Lorraine Hitch (02 6261 1809 or Lorraine.hitch@dfat.gov.au), Director of DFAT's FTA Outreach Unit.

Hunt & Hunt Lawyers have joined with FTA to offer customs brokers and forwarders a set of trading documents that provides the best legal protection for the one low fixed price ... read more

CPD & CBC ComplianceNetFTA Update

 

Broker Licencing CPD & CBC Attainment for the current licencing period


ComplianceNetFTA is the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) online training portal. An additional 12 CPD points are now available online. These include recorded presentations by the Australian Border Force, the Office of Transport Security and Hunt & Hunt Lawyers from the FTA Spring face to face sessions.

New CPD Topics:

  • TCO Compliance - The Regulator's Perspective (3 CPD points, Stream A - CPD0188)

  • Freight Forwarder Reforms & Interim Obligations (1.5 CPD points, Stream A - CPD0189)

  • TCO Case Studies (1.5 CPD points, Stream A - FTA024)

  • Tariff Classification - Recent Developments (3 CPD points, Stream A - FTA025)

  • OTS - Changes to Air Cargo Export Security Requirements (3 CPD points, Stream B - FTA026)

Are you looking for "FREE" online CPD / CBC ?


As a part of your Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) membership, we offer a tailored Premium Plus package bundling in online CPD / CBC training  for all nominated staff at one fixed annual fee.

For further detail contact Paul Zalai on 02 9975 1878

CPD & CBC - Border and Biosecurity Compliance Program

 

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) continues to set the standard in professional development - by simply attending our Autumn and Spring sessions, you will satisfy your 2017/2018 CPD and CBC compliance requirements.


MARK YOUR 2017 DIARY
 

Melbourne 3 May  2017,11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 

Sydney 17 May 2017 11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 

Brisbane 31 May 2017, 11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points

 

Melbourne 6 Sept 2017,11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points + CBC

Sydney 11 Oct 2017 11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 

Brisbane 25 Oct 2017, 11am to 5.15pm – 15 CPD points+ CBC 

Feature Property

26-32 Elliott Road, Dandenong South, Vic 3175

For Lease

 

Located in the heart of Dandenong South's industrial precinct this property is well serviced by major networks. Positioned in the middle of Dandenong allows for good access to East Link, via the Greens Rd diamond interchange (approx. 2km's away) or access to the Sth Gippsland Fwy via Pound Rd on/off ramps (approx. 3km).

The property itself is a real workhorse with infrastructure such as cranes and power, sure to suit any manufacturer. It's internal clearance, large breezeway/canopy and rear hardstand area make it suitable for a warehousing or transport occupant. With the following highly sought after, yet rarely available key features the property is unrivalled by
any other vacant property in today's market place:

+ Single level offices with a mix of open planned and partitioned – 1,160sqm*
+ Total factory/warehouse floor area – 8,560sqm*
+ Bonus canopy/breezeway area – 1,915sqm*
+ 4 X 12.5T gantry cranes travelling the entire length of the building
+ Onsite substation supplying plenty of power
+ Rear hardstand/yard providing convenient storage
+ 73 on site car parks

*approx

READ MORE

COMPLIANT CUSTOMS


The forwarder's broker ... customs clearance solutions for the logistics industry

LIVE@Containerchain

Unparalleled level of visibility and information for all landside container logistics activity

Want to more:

Are you meeting your Sec 77G Depot obligations?

 

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has partnered the Australian Border Force in developing a training package titled "SEC 77G DEPOTS - Obligations in dealing with goods subject to ABF control" ... read more

Have you completed your Continued Biosecurity Competency training ?

 

Included in our growing library of content are recordings of the "CBC Mandatory Sessions" delivered by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources at our face-to-face events.

Now available online are the following: 

  • Continued Biosecurity Competency - Mandatory Session 1 for 2016 (CPD Stream A - DOA009) - recorded session delivered by Andrew Lieschke and Julie Simms from the Department of Agriculture & Water Resources - Sydney 6 April 2016

  • Continued Biosecurity Competency - Mandatory Session 2 for 2016 (CPD Stream A - DOA012) - recorded session presented by Julie Weymouth and Angus Martin from the Department of Agriculture & Water Resources - Sydney 21 October - FTA Border & Biosecurity Compliance Session. NEW


After viewing the recordings and completing the online assessments you receive certification to demonstrate CBC compliance to maintain your 19.1 NCCC and 19.2 AEPCOMM accreditation.


Each recording and assessment package is available via www.ComplianceNetFTA.com - $38.50 (incl GST).

 

NOTE - For more than 3 bookings, please contact me at czalai@FTAlliance.com.au


Caroline Zalai - FTA

Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC)

 

"DHL Global Forwarding uses ComplianceNetFTA for 100+ staff to meet our NCCC and AEPCOMM Continued Biosecurity Competency compliance requirements.

Complimenting this, I have also found the accredited content incorporated into FTA's face-to-face events as being an effective way to achieve border and quarantine requirements by simply attending two events per year."

Bill Wray 
National Customs Compliance Manager - DHL Global Forwarding ... read more

SPONSORS

Use the service providers that support our industry

Recruitment

Candidate of the Week

 

Melbourne

Customs Support (Classify/Compiler), Broker in the making!

Our candidate has 13 years in the local market including 10 in compile/classify roles and exposure to report management/analyst roles.

.... read more

 

Sydney

Operations All-rounder

Their background covers both airfreight and seafreight operations and they are open to all opportunities that fit their skillset.

 

... read more

 

Top 10 Candidates

... read more

Insync Sydney - Leanne Lewis on 1300 467 962, M: 0448 114 804
or Leanne@insyncpersonnel.com.au

Insync Melbourne - Andrew Bennett, M: 0447 054 744 or
Andrew@insyncpersonnel.com.au

Insync Blue - Simone King 1300 467 962

General

18.12.2016 - FTA MEMBER BENEFITS FOR 2017

GREAT NEWS! - Keeping costs down in the new financial year

We understand your competitive environment and appreciate the need keep costs at a minimum.Through our professional approach in providing advocacy and operational support, we have been able to retain our low membership rates ... setting the benchmark in service delivery while also providing the best value for money! ... read more

18.12.2016 - FTA SPONSORS DFAT EVENT FOR THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION
Last week the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) hosted the conference Trade Facilitation Reform: A Business and Government Partnership held in Sydney, bringing together Governments and businesses from the Indo-Pacific together to find ways to make trade more efficient. ... read more

16.12.2016 - CBAFF NZ NEWSLETTER - 16 DECEMBER 2016

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16.12.2016 - LICENSING REVIEW - RELEASE OF ISSUES PAPER
... read more

16.12.2016 - CBRE - FEATURE PROPERTY - FOR LEASE DANDENONG SOUTH
Located in the heart of Dandenong South's industrial precinct this property is well serviced by major networks. Positioned in the middle of Dandenong allows for good access to East Link, via the Greens Rd diamond interchange (approx. 2km's away) or access to the Sth Gippsland Fwy via Pound Rd on/off ramps (approx. 3km). ... read more

15.12.2016 - DFAT - TRADETALK

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Agriculture

15.12.2016 - DAWR - 120-2016 – BICON WILL BE UNAVAILABLE 20:00 TO 21:00 (AEDT) THURSDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2016

Who does this notice affect? - All clients who will be required to use the Department's Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned outage period. ... read more

14.12.2016 - DAWR - IMPORT INDUSTRY ADVICE 121/2016 - ASIAN GYPSY MOTH

Commencement of Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) Vessel Assessment and Inspection Arrangements 2017 has been published   ... login required

13.12.2016 - DAWR - INDUSTRY ADVICE NOTICE - 119-2016 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OPERATING HOURS

Who does this notice affect? - All internal and external stakeholders who may require Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Services between Christmas and New Year. ... login required

13.12.2016 - DAWR - 118-2016 – CHANGES TO THE AUTOMATIC ENTRY PROCESSING FOR COMMODITIES APPROVED ARRANGEMENT (CLASS 19.2) REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT DUE TO TRANSITIONING AEPCOMM CODES INTO BICON

Who does this notice affect? - The following information is relevant to Biosecurity Industry Participants (BIPs), and accredited persons operating under the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' Approved Arrangement Class 19.2: Automatic Entry Processing for Commodities. This information also affects Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that deliver the unit of competency TLIX5054 Comply with Biosecurity Border Clearance. ... login required

Border

16.12.2016 - DIBP - ABF SEIZE PROHIBITED WEAPONS FROM BOWEN HOUSE

Officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) visited a residential address in Bowen, Queensland yesterday (December 14), seizing a large number of prohibited weapon imports, with charges now being considered under the Customs Act. ... login required

16.12.2016 - DIBP - NATIVE LIZARDS SAVED FROM ILLEGAL EXPORT

A man has been charged after more than 20 native Australian lizards were saved from illegal export, wrapped in socks and concealed in mail items bound for Hong Kong. On 13 December Australia Post workers at the Perth Gateway Facility detected 10 bobtail lizards and one blue tongue lizard during x-ray screening on outbound mail and notified the Australian Border Force (ABF) via the Border Watch program. ... read more

16.12.2016 - DIBP - ABF AND HONG KONG CUSTOMS WORK TOGETHER AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG TRADE

The Australian Border Force has partnered with Hong Kong Customs and Excise to stop more than 25 kilograms of illicit drugs from reaching our community in a joint operation that has been underway since October. The joint operation successfully detected a number of narcotic importations through the mail system and directly stopped these dangerous drugs from breaching our borders. ... login required

16.12.2016 - EXPORTS - CHAFTA CERTIFICATES OF NON MANIPULATION (CNM)

Freight & Trade Alliance representatives recently met in Canberra with representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). An issue raised by DFAT was in terms of ChAFTA CNMs for exporting from Australia to China. Following our meeting, DFAT has prepared the following information for the reference our members and for dissemination to the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF). ... read more

16.12.2016 - DIBP - HARMONIZED SYSTEM 2017 - OFFICIAL RELEASE STATISTICAL CODES
Further to our contact with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) notice released yesterday, we are pleased to advise that the official Harmonized System 2017 statistical code concordance tables have now been uploaded onto the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website  ... read more

16.12.2016 - NZ CUSTOMS RELEASE - ISSUE 385

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15.12.2016 - HARMONIZED SYSTEM 2017 - STATISTICAL CODES

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has contacted the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and received advice that statistical codes for the import Tariff will be on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) website in the next few days. ... read more

15.12.2016 - DIBP - NOTICE NO.2016/40 HS 2017 PRODUCT SPECIFIC RULES OF ORIGIN FOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

On 1 January 2017, some classifications in the Customs Tariff Act 1995 will change as a result of amendments to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS2017). Detailed information regarding the changes is available in the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Notice 2016/34, which is available at
www.border.gov.au/Customsnotices/Documents/HS-2016-34.pdf. DIBPN 2016/34 provides a concordance table of tariff items affected by the proposed changes. ... login required

14.12.2016 - TC GAZETTE - 2016/48

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14.12.2016 - ABF QUASHES TOBACCO SMUGGLING RING IN SYDNEY

An Australian Border Force (ABF) investigation has resulted in more than 18 million cigarettes being seized and the arrest of three men alleged to be behind a significant tobacco smuggling ring in Sydney. On 3 December, ABF officers targeted a container arriving from China, described as containing boxes of paper cups. ABF officers unpacked the container and 18 million sticks of 'Napoli' brand cigarettes were discovered within the boxes. ... read more

Industry

ANTI-DUMPING NOTICES

The Anti-Dumping Commission investigates alleged dumping and subsidisation of goods imported into Australia and imposes duties to address material injury to the Australian Industry that manufactures similar or the same goods. The work of the Commission complies with rules of the World Trade Organization and Australian legislation. ... login required

Sea

16.12.2016 - THE IMARA HAS ARRIVED !!!

 ... read more

16.12.2016 - TRANSPORT FOR NSW - NEW FREIGHT WEBSITE LAUNCHED

Earlier this year, Transport for NSW sought feedback from freight industry stakeholders to inform the redevelopment of its website – www.freight.transport.nsw.gov.au  .... login required

16.12.2016 - GSS UPDATE # 13 - DETAILS OF WEHR TRAVE DISCHARGE IN HONG KONG

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15.12.2016 - AUSTRALIAN COTTON SHIPPERS ASSOCIATION - NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the first edition of our newly minted e-news! The past few months has seen the redevelopment of both our website and e-newsletter. Check out our new style - we hope that you'll find the content interesting and informative. ... read more

15.12.2016 - HUTCHISON PORT BOTANY - END OF YEAR OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

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15.12.2016 - GSS UPDATE # 12 - VESSEL IMARA TO BERTH AT PORT BOTANY AFTER MONTHS AT SEA

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15.12.2016 - GSS UPDATE # 11 - WEHR TRAVE DISCHARGING IN HONG KONG

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15.12.2016 - PATRICK PORT BOTANY - END OF YEAR OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

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15.12.2016 - DP WORLD BRISBANE - END OF YEAR OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

... login required

15.12.2016 - MINOR SPILL CONTAINED AND CLEAN UP IN PROCESS

DP World Australia and the Melbourne Fire Brigade have contained a very minor spill at DP World Australia's West Swanson terminal overnight. ... read more

14.12.2016 - GSS UPDATE # 10 - WEHR TRAVE DISCHARGE PLANS HAVE CHANGED
... read more

Air

14.12.2016 - QANTAS - FESTIVE SEASON OPERATING HOURS

... read more

PHONE: 02 9975 1878 

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