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Introducing Australia's Lead Advocacy Alliance

On 1 January 2017, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) officially commenced its Secretariat role reporting to the board and supporting members of the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA).

By bringing together FTA and APSA, we form Australia's leading advocacy alliance committed to keeping members at the forefront of all emerging supply chain issues through our responsive operational support, professional development training, industry updates, commercial services and corporate events.

Paul Zalai - FTA / APSA

About the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA)

APSA is an industry association and the designated peak shipper body granted status by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport under Part X of the Consumer & Competition Act to represent the interests of Australian exporters generally in relation to outwards liner cargo shipping services ... read more

APSA Members

APSA members are listed HERE

Expanded Administration

At the next APSA Annual General Meeting on 27 February 2017, Robert Coode will officially retire as Executive President with key responsibilities to be handed over to the FTA administrative team and APSA's first elected chairman and treasurer.

In breaking news, we are delighted to announce that Robert has agreed to continue for an extended term as a part of the FTA administration to assist with ongoing operational and policy reforms. Robert is one of industry's most respected leaders and brings enormous international trade experience to our team.

FTA / APSA administration contact details are listed HERE

Back L to R - Caroline Zalai (FTA), Travis Brooks-Garrett (FTA), Paul Blake (APSA) / Front L to R Paul Zalai (FTA), Robert Coode (APSA) 

Export equipment during peak grain season

We have received feedback from our grain members around a lack of equipment, which we anticipate will be amplified with the smaller number of inbound flows booked for January. The Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) has commenced initial engagement with shipping lines. To support this process please share your experiences to Travis at Secretariat@auspsa.com or 0434 105 145.

GSS - final wrap-up of another shipping line collapse

It looks like the Great Southern Shipping saga is nearing an end.

Imara - we had tremendous support from Inchcape Shipping Services who filled the void and successfully picked up the pieces as the vessel's local shipping agent. Patrick stevedoring, NSW Ports and the Australian Border Force also provided exceptional supported with delivery and contingency arrangements. Finally, we would like to thank our FTA members and Hunt & Hunt Lawyers who shared key operational information to assist with our coordination of activities.

Wehr Trave - our most recent contact with the legal counsel for the vessel owner on 29 December 2016 indicated that there are still many containers which need to be collected from the Wallem Shipping, Hong Kong. Affected parties should note that the seven days free storage passed on 23 December 2016.

Notice of Meeting of Creditors - Notice is given that a meeting of the creditors of the Great Southern Shipping Australia Pty Ltd will be held in Sydney on Monday 9 January 2017 - further detail is available HERE

For further detail please contact me at tbrooks-garrett@FTAlliance.com.au or 0434 105 145 

Travis Brooks-Garrett - FTA / APSA

Now more than ever it is essential for freight forwarders to safeguard against credit risks.

The dramatic collapse of a global powerhouse business such as Hanjin shipping and the failure of local agency Great Southern Shipping highlighted that businesses may not be as stable as what they appear on the surface.
 
Freight forwarders have become "quasi banks" to their importer customers committing to paying duties and Government charges on behalf of customers, on credit, as well as taking on the service cost risk. Debtor management becomes all the more crucial in an a highly competitive environment with lower margins and questionable stability of some clients including "blue chip" companies .
 
Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has partnered with Logical Financial Management (LFM), National Credit Insurance Brokers (NCI) and Coface to provide a combined and specialist Trade Credit Insurance program.
 
NCI, like LFM, are Steadfast Network Insurance Brokers and have been established for over 30 years. NCI are the largest player in this field with a strong presence in the freight forwarding and transport industry. They provide a fully integrated debtors management solution for businesses in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore .
 
This new partnership will deliver the continued expertise of James Cotis and the team at LFM providing personal service and continued support to FTA members. Our shared aim is to provide the industry with the opportunity of evaluating risks and making an informed business decisions.
 
In February 2017 we will be making contact with you to discuss how we can assist you in your debtor management. In the interim, please feel free to contact James Costis to find out more about our Trade Credit Insurance program.

Calls for nominations to join the Compliance Advisrory Group

The Trade and Goods Compliance Advisory Group (CAG) is calling for membership nominations for 2017. The CAG is a collaborative forum with industry to co-design solutions for trade and goods compliance issues.

The CAG membership is comprised of representatives from the Department, including officers from the ABF, and members of industry. Industry members include representatives from the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia, the Freight and Trade Alliance, the Australian Federation of International Forwarders and the Council of Asia Pacific Express Carriers, as well as six non-industry association members.

In accordance with the Terms of Reference, non-industry association membership representation is limited to a period of 12 months.

This is your opportunity to join this collaborative forum and have input to solutions to trade and goods compliance issues.

If you wish to nominate for CAG please email goodscompliance@border.gov.au noting your interest and briefly outlining why you wish to join. The first meeting in 2017 is scheduled to be held in March.

For more information on the CAG, including the Terms of Reference and previous meeting minutes, please visit our CAG webpage.

Harmonized System 2017 - implementation issues

Feedback received from Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and Compliance Advisory Group (CAG) members is that software providers have experienced similar delays to customs brokers in receiving files and integrating changes in users' systems.
 
Whilst this left many in industry with a race against the clock to be compliant for the new year, FTA has asked the question to the Australian Border Force whether there will be any compliance leniency during a reasonable implementation period.

A preliminary response acknowledged that there will inevitably be some issues to sort out in early January, and that the Department will work with industry to resolve any issues.

We will keep members up to date with developments.

Paul Zalai - FTA / APSA

OUR FIRST WEBINAR FOR THE YEAR  - TUES 17 JAN 2017

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) will be hosting a series of webinars and face-to-face events in 2017. Thank you to Hunt & Hunt Lawyers for the delivery of our first event for the year - FREE for FTA / APSA members.

WEBINAR - Russell Wiese, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - The customs broker and importer relationship – risks and obligations ... 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 / APSA

General

1.1.2017 - INTRODUCING AUSTRALIA'S LEAD ADVOCACY ALLIANCE

Effective today, 1 January 2017, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) officially commenced its Secretariat role reporting to the board and supporting members of the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA). By bringing together FTA and APSA, we form Australia's leading advocacy alliance committed to keeping members at the forefront of all emerging supply chain issues through our responsive operational support, professional development training, industry updates, commercial services and corporate events. ... read more

28.12.2016 - WEBINARS & RECORDINGS

Stay at the cutting edge through participation in live webinars and access to recordings – all are FREE & EXCLUSIVE to Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) members. ... login required

28.12.2016 - WEBINAR - THE CUSTOMS BROKER AND IMPORTER RELATIONSHIP – RISKS AND OBLIGATIONS
Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) will be hosting a series of webinars and face-to-face events in 2017. Thank you to Hunt & Hunt Lawyers for the delivery of our first event for the year. ... read more

23.12.2016 - AFP NATIONAL MEDIA TEAM CHRISTMAS OFFICE HOURS
... read more

Agriculture

23.12.2016 - IMPORTED FOOD SECTION UPDATE

January to June 2016 Imported food inspection data report ... login required

23.12.2016 - DAWR - IMPORTED FOOD - REGULATION

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) received advice that the Imported Food Control Regulations 1993 will sunset on 1 October 2018. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources have commenced a review of these Regulations to manage the sunset process. An important part of the review is a period of public consultation on the Regulations. ... login required

Border

29.12.2016 - DIBPN 2016/38 - REPLACEMENT OF COMMERCE (IMPORTS) REGULATIONS 1940

29.12.2016 - AUSTRALIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ONE STEP AHEAD OF ILLICIT DRUG SYNDICATES

29.12.2016 - AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE - COMPLIANCE UPDATE AND CALLS FOR CAG NOMINATIONS

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) commends the Australian Border Force (ABF) for their informed compliance approach through:

• the production of regular Goods Compliance Updates;

• industry engagement via the Trade and Goods Compliance Advisory Group (CAG);and

• presentations via FTA's online and face-to-face CPD & CBC - Border and Biosecurity Compliance Program. 

... read more

29.12.2016 - DIBP - INTERNATIONAL MULTI-AGENCY OPERATION NETS A TONNE OF COCAINE, 15 CHARGED

This is a joint ABF, AFP and NSW Police Force media release.

An international multi-agency operation which ran for more than two-and-a-half years has resulted in the seizure of approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine in New South Wales (NSW) and more than 600 kilograms of cocaine in Tahiti which was destined for Australia. This amount of cocaine has an estimated street value of approximately $360 million.  ... read more

23.12.2016 - NZ CUSTOMS RELEASE - ISSUE 386

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23.12.2016 - DIBP NOTICE NO.2016/43 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXPANDED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT AND OTHER 1 JANUARY 2017 CHANGES

Department of Immigration and Border Protection Notice No. 2016/36 provided advice on the amendments contained in the Customs Tariff Amendment (Expanded Information Technology Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2016. These amendments will take effect on 1 January 2017. This Notice provides further information on the consequential changes to Tariff Concession Orders (TCOs), Tariff Precedents, Tariff Advices, and statistical code changes. ... login required

22.12.2016 - 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

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

1.1.2017 - GSS UPDATE # 14 - FINAL WRAP-UP OF ANOTHER SHIPPING LINE COLLAPSE

 ... read more

30.12.2016 - DETAILS OF GSS AUSTRALIA INSOLVENCY AND CREDITORS MEETING

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30.12.2016 - PATRICK - NATIONAL IT ISSUES - RESOLVED

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30.12.2016 - PATRICK PORT BOTANY - CANCELLED TIME SLOTS

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28.12.2016 - HUTCHISON BRISBANE - MUA AGM

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22.12.2016 - HUTCHISON BRISBANE - END OF YEAR OPERATIONS

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Air

23.12.2016 - FIATA - E-FLASH NO. 141 - 22 DECEMBER 2016

... read more