Use of FTAs by Australian businesses and trade supported

A 2018 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report titled Free Trade Agreement Utilisation Study concluded FTAs were being widely used and have a positive impact on business confidence, activity, strategy, and expansion planning, including in the services sector.

The PwC report also concluded that while FTAs deliver greater regulatory certainty for Australian service providers and investors in partner markets, these commitments to liberalise services were still new territory for businesses. In addition, the full service market outcomes of Australia’s North Asian FTAs would take time to bear fruit, and would become evident over future years.

Actions

1.1A

Government

Pursue high-quality digital trade liberalisation and facilitation rules

In progress

5.3A

Government

Promote business awareness and use of Australia’s free trade agreements.

In progress

5.3D

Industry

Promote awareness and use of free trade agreements within their sector

In progress

The FTA portal

The FTA Portal (ftaportal.dfat.gov.au) is an easy-to-use website which enables use of Australia’s in-force free trade agreements (FTAs) by businesses, including goods and services exporters.