OPINION: Larger box ships - a regular sight or once-off?
THE ARRIVAL of two 9400 TEU container ships, the MSC Elma and Maersk Skarstind, back in July heralded the arrival of a new class of container vessel to visit Australia. Both...
OPINION: Ease up on the red tape
IN ORDER to customs clear a typical sea freight shipment through Agriculture [Quarantine] where the goods are Manufactured Wooden Articles [MWA] from let's say China, we would...
TRADE LAW: Improving trade through coastal shipping
EVEN with the current political pressures around global trade and the supply chain, there seems to be little prospect that there will be no reduction in goods being moved through...
OPINION: Self-Assessed Clearances - Off-shoring
IN AUSTRALIA, customs brokers are licenced under Section 183C of the Customs Act 1901. Customs brokers [generally] undertake a course of study, gain work experience and submit a...
OPINION: Report on the rise of disruptionware
“DISRUPTING” traditional business models might be hot talk for start-ups pitching investors, but in the world of manufacturing, transportation, energy and similar sectors, real...
OPINION: Picking apart packing problems
PACKING declarations have been in operation since around 1998/1999 [the time when I became a licensed customs broker]. International sea freight trade into Australia has changed...
OPINION: Pacific potential
I RECENTLY had the privilege of being invited to participate in the Pacific Connect Dialogue on Freight and Logistics workshop held in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Pacific Connect,...
OPINION: Exciting decision from the AAT
I HAVE heard reports that imports of aluminium or steel parts are being reclassified by the ABF regarding the application of anti-dumping duties. The situation appears to occur...
OPINION: Aluminium cladding - why it should be a prohibited import
ALUMINIUM cladding is lightweight, corrosion resistant and contains a plastic core. It is commonly used as facades on the exterior of buildings. It is a problem and should be...
TRADE LAW: The battle grows against non-tariff barriers
AS RATES of general tariffs move downwards - with the exception of those moving upwards in the current US against China and the EU disputes - one of the main restrictions on...
OPINION: Space is the place
WHERE are you? You can answer this question in several ways. You can use a street address, a postal code, or geographic co-ordinates. But these methods fall short when you need...
OPINION: Tariff concession revocations
ACCORDING to the decision in in Vestas - Australian Wind Technology Pty Limited and Chief Executive Officer of Customs [2015] AATA 348 (21 May 2015), the objective of the Tariff...
OPINION: Cost recovery must match reform risk
ALIGNED to a key recommendation in the Freight and Trade Alliance submission to the Inspector-General of Biosecurity, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is...
OPINION: Australian safety and fuel security affected by Navy staff shortage
THE FRIGATE HMAS Perth underwent a substantial and costly capability upgrade and refurbishment in 2017, but it has been in dry-dock since due to the RAN inability to man the...
OPINION: Trade deals fill only half the need as supply chain lags
THE ASIAN Century is well and truly upon us, with data showing Asian economies will be larger than the rest of the world combined and home to half of the world’s middle class by...
