Seminar to help Townsville businesses use Australia’s FTAs

I will host a seminar in Townsville this Friday (9 November 2018) to help local businesses understand how Australia’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can benefit them.

The free event will begin at 8.30am at The Ville Resort-Casino, and I urge all local exporters or businesses interested in exporting to come along.

Among the speakers will be Matthew Haller from Scorpion Jacks, who will discuss his company’s exporting experiences.

Representatives from Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), AusIndustry and Tradestart will provide practical exporting advice.

Australia’s FTAs with major trading partners such as China, Japan and Korea provide significant advantages for Australian exports, including many produced in the Townsville region, such as agricultural goods.

Mining products and services also enjoy marked advantages under current FTAs, as well as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP-11) and the newly signed Peru-Australia FTA (PAFTA).

Australia’s ratification of the TPP-11 last week means the agreement will enter into force on 30 December, delivering a tariff cut for Australian exporters in markets such as Canada and Mexico on entry into force, and another tariff cut on 1 January 2019.  In the case of Japan, this second round of tariff cuts will occur on 1 April 2019.

Mining products and services also enjoy marked advantages under current FTAs, as well as TPP-11 and the newly signed Peru-Australia FTA (PAFTA).  These agreements will lock in tariffs at zero for Australian minerals, petroleum and LNG.

As our FTAs reduce barriers to trade, overseas markets become more accessible for local companies that might not previously have considered exporting.  The Government has an active and ambitious agenda that includes the negotiation and implementation of new FTAs that will substantially increase Australian export opportunities over time.

With its thriving mineral, agricultural and manufacturing industries, the Townsville economy is well placed to exploit many of these new opportunities.

Attendees can register for the seminar at austrade.gov.au/ftaseminars or find out more information by calling Austrade on 13 28 78 or emailing fta@austrade.gov.au