Aimed at boosting the economy through increased trade and investment, Australia continues to develop its network of free trade agreements through 2022 and has significant plans for 2023, opening up more business opportunities. is bringing
Agreement Establishing ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (ANZFTA)
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia and New Zealand recently announced the substantive conclusion of negotiations to renew the AANZFTA. Specific details of the upgrade have yet to be announced, but with negotiations partially underway, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism has announced that the purpose of the upgrade is to:
- Accelerate supply chain integration and resilience.
- Ensuring the smooth flow of essentials in times of crisis.
- Deepen the liberalization of services and investments.When
- Support e-commerce and digital transformation.
Regulations on e-commerce, competition, customs clearance, trade facilitation, trade in goods, rules of origin, trade in services and investment will also be updated. A second protocol to amend the AANZFTA is expected to be signed in 2023. Check out this space.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)
RCEP is a regional free trade agreement that builds on existing agreements between Australia and 14 other Indo-Pacific countries. The agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2022 and, if successfully ratified by all parties, will be the world’s largest free trade agreement by GDP of member countries.
RCEP will strengthen value chain integration, make rules of origin more common for companies trading with multiple RCEP parties, lock market access, address non-tariff barriers, and improve the status of existing free trade agreements. increase.
Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA)
After more than a decade of negotiations, AI-ECTA was signed in April of this year. The Australian government is taking the necessary steps to implement the agreement, and legislation to this effect passed her parliament in late November. India has also completed a domestic process to ratify AI-ECTA. AI-ECTA will enter into force on December 29, 2022.
As the world’s fastest growing large economy, India offers many opportunities, especially for Australian exporters. Australia’s goal is for India to become one of her top three export markets by 2035, as well as increase Australian investment in India. AI-ECTA eliminates tariffs on 85% of Australian exports, with a further 5% tariff reduction in phases. This will save Australian exporters around $2 billion annually. Consumers and businesses are set to save about $500 million annually in import tariffs. Improved mobility for professionals and access to the Indian market for Australian companies are among other achievements.
AI-ECTA is an interim agreement and negotiations are underway towards a full free trade agreement between these parties.
Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA)
The A-UK FTA will be signed on 17 December 2021 and will enter into force 30 days (or other mutually agreed period) after both Australia and the UK have confirmed in writing that they have completed their respective domestic requirements. To do. In a step towards this, the Australian Parliament passed the legislation necessary to implement the agreement in late November this year. The UK government is in the process of enacting the necessary enabling legislation as part of its own ratification process.Australia’s Minister of Trade and Tourism recently announced that the UK will allow the A-UK FTA to enter into force in early 2023. to finalize national requirements.
The A-UK FTA will eliminate tariffs on over 99% of Australian goods exported to the UK and reduce other trade barriers. Regulate digital trade, make it easier for Australian businesses and individuals to operate in the UK market, and raise investment screening thresholds in line with other major Australian investment partners with which Australia has free trade agreements .
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In 2023, negotiations on a free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union will continue (A-EU FTAs) and a more comprehensive version of AI-ECTA, the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. In particular, there are indications that the A-EU FTA could be finalized in the first half of 2023.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFATMore) is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a comprehensive economic partnership with the United Arab Emirates. Information on both agreements, including how to submit them, can be found on DFAT’s website here and here, respectively. Her economic ties with GCC members, including Australia and the United Arab Emirates, are significant. Two-way trade between Australia and her GCC in 2021 is worth $11.1 billion.Especially the United Arab Emirates is our 19th It is the Middle East’s largest export market and largest trade and investment partner. These potential agreements reflect Australia’s interest in furthering these relationships.
Businesses and investors looking to take advantage of new opportunities offered by Australian free trade agreements (including the potential free trade agreements referenced above) should investigate channels to the market or assess specific market conditions. Whether you want to understand it or not, you should consider your own next steps. Measures to establish a product or service and/or presence in a free trade agreement country.
