New benefits for Australian Trusted Traders

11/12/2020

To our valued customers,

SILA Global is proud to be an Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) as recognised by Australian Border Force.

ATT is a government partnership with Australian businesses to streamline legitimate trade – reducing red tape at the border and expediting the flow of cargo in/out of Australia. It is available to those business that can demonstrate a secure international supply chain and compliant trade practices.

Being a Trusted Trader is a mark of distinction and provides many benefits including;

  • faster resolution of any border clearance issues
  • priority processing & treatment of cargo
  • less checks and interventions of import cargo
  • trade facilitation benefits with certain countries under Mutual Recognition Arrangements
  • duty deferral – into a single monthly payment
  • origin waivers – Certificates or Declarations of Origin are not required under certain free trade agreements

In addition to these existing benefits the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have received advice from the Australian Border Force (ABF) in terms of expanded benefits for Australian Trusted Traders:

Expansion of ATT Origin Waiver benefit

The Origin Waiver benefit for Australian Trusted Traders has been expanded to the following trade agreements.

  • Indonesia-Australia FTA (IA-CEPA)
  • Australia-Hong Kong FTA (AHKFTA)
  • Peru-Australia FTA (PAFTA)
  • Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
  • Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus

Australian Customs Notice 2020/43 provides further detail

Periodic Payments benefit

The Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood recently announced the Periodic Payment benefit for eligible Australian Trusted Traders. This measure will enable Australian Trusted Traders to pay ABF-collected import related fees and charges on a monthly basis (on the 21st day of the month following the month in which the goods are imported), rather than on a transaction basis. The measure is expected to become available by mid-2021.

The benefit will initially be available to eligible Australian Trusted Traders who defer payment of GST through the GST deferral scheme (i.e. importers). It will allow deferred payment of: Import Processing Charge (IPC), Wine Equalisation Tax (WET), Luxury Car Tax (LCT), Agriculture Processing Charge, and the Wood Levy. This extends the existing ability for Australian Trusted Traders to defer payment of customs duty, including anti-dumping duty, which was introduced to the program in 2018.

The ABF have advised they will provide more information on the benefit in 2021.

If you have any questions about how to become an Australian Trusted Trader please reach out to our Director of Customs & Logistics – Simon Pepper simon@sila.net.au

Thanks & kind regards…

SILA Customer Service