More than 780 Australian businesses are now accredited Trusted Traders, with a further 330 progressing towards accreditation.
The annual Symposium provides an opportunity for hundreds of Australian businesses to engage directly with the program’s decision makers and shape the future direction of Australian Trusted Trader (ATT).
This year’s symposium was delivered virtually for the first time, and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to maintaining an important dialogue with businesses throughout a year of hardship and uncertainty.
Administered by the Australian Border force (ABF), the ATT program is free to join, and rewards businesses with a secure supply chain and compliant trade practices with a range of benefits including streamlined customs clearances and processing.
In a virtual address from Parliament House, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, announced two new benefits for Trusted Traders, and reflected on the role the ATT program would play in the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These new benefits reduce unnecessary financial burdens for eligible trusted importers and eliminate additional documents under Free Trade Agreements, combined with existing benefits the ATT increases the competitiveness of Trusted Traders abroad,” Assistant Minister Wood said.
“As we grapple with the health and economic challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s prosperity relies on how quickly and easily businesses can trade internationally. Australian Trusted Trader is your toolkit for recovery.”
ABF Commissioner, Michael Outram APM said the ATT program is more important than ever, and may be the competitive edge many businesses need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being a Trusted Trader accredited by the ABF secures benefits integral to the recovery of many businesses. Reduced costs, faster processing and secure supply chains are just some of the advantages the ABF are providing through this program.” Commissioner Outram said.
New benefits for Trusted Traders
- Periodic payments benefit – Allows eligible trusted importers to pay import related taxes to the ATO on a monthly basis rather than on a transactional basis. This measure will remove the duplication and inefficiencies of having two payment points. To be implemented in 2021.
- Origin Waiver expansion – Trusted Trader importers will no longer be required to obtain or present origin certification documents, in order to claim preferential rates of duty under those Free Trade Agreements. The expansion will include goods imported under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Australia-Hong Kong FTA, Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Peru-Australia FTA.
In order to access the benefits of the program you must be an accredited Trusted Trader. Businesses who are not yet accredited Trusted Traders are encouraged to apply by visiting www.abf.gov.au/trustedtrader.
