UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement: customs explainer (web version)
Published 16 December 2021
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The agreement is expected to enter into force on 31 May. Once this has happened, businesses will be able to trade under its terms.
This trade deal will help businesses to trade goods between the UK and Australia quickly and easily. Reducing administrative burdens will boost trade between our countries and accelerate business growth through exporting.
Rapid clearance
New commitments will ensure products exit customs quickly, giving businesses the certainty they need to ship products to and from Australia, encouraging more trade. Both the UK and Australia have committed to releasing all goods from customs within 48 hours of arrival, provided all requirements have been met. Some products, such as perishable goods and fast-tracked parcels, will be released within 6 hours. This will make sure that delivery times can be met and food stays fresh while waiting to clear customs.
Fast decisions from customs on advance rulings
Businesses who want to export goods to Australia can receive a legally binding decision in advance from customs authorities on the tariff classification and origin of their product within 90 days. This provides certainty for traders and means businesses can make informed business decisions and benefit from fewer delays at the border.
Empowering SMEs
The deal addresses a wide range of trade barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), of which customs is an important part. SMEs will be able to easily access the information they need to trade with Australia without having to consult external trade experts. The trade deal will ensure practical information for importing and exporting is simple to find online. Businesses will be able to access information covering topics like transit procedures, the documentation they need to complete, and operation hours for customs offices at ports and border crossings procedures.
No need for customs brokers
Cutting out the middleman can save money, speed up processes and empower businesses to trade on their own terms. We have agreed that traders will not be required to use customs brokers to import or export goods. Traders can still choose to employ the services of a customs broker, but this commitment gives them flexibility in approach.
Simplifying customs processes
Making customs simple and streamlined makes it more straightforward for businesses to ship their products overseas. The UK and Australia have agreed to adopt measures that further simplify customs procedures, such as reducing data requirements for traders fulfilling certain defined criteria. Both the UK and Australia have also committed to implementing single trade windows, which are typically online portals where all customs paperwork can be uploaded in one place. This will continue to make it even easier for businesses to trade with Australia in the years ahead.