The Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus enters into force 13 December 2020. This agreement provides preferential tariff treatment between Australia, New Zealand and eight Pacific Island countries — Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. (Vanuatu is also a signatory to the Agreement but does not appear to have ratified it yet.)   The Australian Border Force (ABF) has published a Guide to the PACER Plus on the ABF PACER Plus webpage at: https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/free-trade-agreements/pacer-plus.   This guide explains how to determine whether goods that are imported to Australia are eligible for preferential rates of customs duty under PACER Plus in accordance with the Customs Act 1901 and the PACER Plus rules of origin.   In addition to the guide, the ABF PACER Plus website includes links to ACNs relevant to PACER Plus. These are: Australian Customs Notice No 2020/48 - Expansion of Origin Waiver benefit for Australian Trusted Traders Australian Customs Notice No 2020/49 - Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus – Entry into Force   The full text of the Agreement is on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website at https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/not-yet-in-force/pacer/Pages/documents

Susan Danks -  Head of Customs and Regulatory Compliance, FTA / APSA

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)  (Customs Broker Licensing Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021)

Please join us as we return to face-to-face events - all sessions will provide 24 CPD points for the customs broker licensing period ending 31 March 2021. SYDNEY - Friday 5 February 2021  ADDITIONAL SPACES NOW AVAILABLE!!! - Click HERE for program SYDNEY - Saturday 6 February 2021  ADDITIONAL SPACES NOW AVAILABLE!!! - Click HERE for program MELBOURNE - Friday 12 February 2021  SPACES STILL AVAILABLE  - Click HERE for program MELBOURNE - Saturday 13 February 2021  SPACES STILL AVAILABLE  - Click HERE for program BRISBANE - Wednesday 17 February 2021 LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT - Click HERE for program PERTH - Saturday 20 February 2021  LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - BOOK NOW TO AVAOID DISAPPOINTMENT - Click HERE for program For those of you who had already registered, you should have received a confirmation email indicating your registration has been carried over to a February 2021 session date. Cost will be members $330 incl GST / non-member $385  TO REGISTER FOR A FEBRUARY 2021 EVENT - please contact Caroline at czalai@ftalliance.com.au