Newsletters 

Contents

• ChAFTA – China-Australia Free Trade Agreement
• Rate Restoration/GRI increase
• Australian Customs’ New Name – Australian Border Force
• Proposed Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Emergency Measures
• Trusted Trader Programme
• Port of Oakland
• New Tayper Website

ChAFTA

On the 17^th of June 2015 in the presence of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Australian Trade & Investment Minister Mr Andrew Robb AO MP and the Chinese commerce Minister Mr Gao Hucheng, the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) was signed in Canberra.   The reason for this notification is to advise of the signing and that the timeframe will be approx. 50 days from date of signing before implementation as the agreement goes through the necessary checks.  Specific details including enforcement date, excluded/included tariff items and documentary requirements to claim the preference has not yet been published on the Customs website.   As more information comes to hand we will advise accordingly.

Rate Restoration/GRI increase

Some Carriers operating to Australia have announced a rate restoration/GRI (General Rate Increase) be applied to shipments effective the 1^st of August 2015 for both dry and refrigerated containers.  This increase will effect South bound shipments from North East China (including China, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan to Australia.)   Please be aware that if your consignments are from one of the above origin countries your consignment may incur additional charges of USD 300.00 per 20’ and USD 600.00 per 40’ this is on top of the base freight rate/BAF. For LCL shipments an additional USD 15.00 per M3/1000.0kgs may apply.   If you have any queries, please contact our Import Seafreight Department – import@tayper.com.au

Australian Customs’ New Name – Australian Border Force

On the  1^st of July 2015 the ‘Australian Customs & Border Protection Services (ACBPS)’ integrated with the ‘Department of Immigration and Border Protection’ and the ‘Australian Border Force (ABF)’ was established.    Please note the below changes:   Website www.customs.gov.au to be replaced by www.border.gov.au

Proposed Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Emergency Measures

The Department of Agriculture have published a notification stating the proposed measures for the upcoming season.  Please see below information taken from Department of Agriculture notice ‘2015-48 – Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season 2015/16’   Season dates/Affected ports: The proposed measures will apply to target goods shipped from all ports in the United States from 1 September 2015 to 30 April 2016 inclusive.  It is envisaged that the measures will remain in place for the entire season unless pest infestations are detected.  Should this occur, the department may impose similar emergency requirements to the 2014-15 season.   Target goods: As per last season, new and unused vehicles, vessels and machinery are the target cargo.  However, the department has scaled back applicable tariffs.   What is proposed?:

• From 1 September 2015 all used goods in the target tariffs would need tobe cleaned and treated for potential stink bug infestations immediately prior to shipping on or before 30 April 2016. This would apply to break bulk and FCL containerised goods.
• Allnew goods in the target tariffs manufactured and/or stored between 1 September and 1 December 2015 and then shipped on or before 30 April 2016 as break bulk or FCL would be required to undergo offshore treatment unless subject to alternative safeguarding arrangements approved by the department.
• All new goods in the target tariffs manufactured after 1 December 2015 and shipped as break bulk or FCLs on or before 30 April 2016 would require a consignment specific manufacture’s new, unused and not field tested (NUFT) declaration which includes the date and place of manufacture.

Treatments: Since the commencement of emergency measures last season, new data on sulfuryl fluoride, methyl bromide and heat treatments have become available.  This new data has allowed new aligned treatment conditions to be implemented by both Australia and New Zealand with a high degree of confidence.   The revised treatment conditions are:

• Sulfuryl fluoride – at least 48g/m3 for 6 hours or longer or at least 16g/m3 for 12 hours or longer both with an end point reading of 50% or more of the initial concentration and conducted at a temperature of
• Methyl bromide – at least 16g/m3 for 12 hours or longer with an end point reading of 50% or more of the initial concentration and conducted at a temperature of 15 °C or higher (please note this temperature is 5 °C higher than the SF conditions above).
• Heat – 50 °C or greater for at least 20 minutes in the coldest location in the vehicle

Treatment time before loading:

• Break bulk goods treated before 1 December will have a 96 hour treatment window.
• Break bulk goods treated after 1 December are unlikely to become re-infested, so will not be subject to a treatment window.
• Containerised goods sealed after treatment and arriving seals intact will not be subject to a treatment window.

We will provide further information as it comes to hand, alternatively you can visit the Department of Agriculture website.   http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/industry-advice/ian/15/48-2015

Trusted Trader Programme

The Border Force are in developmental stage of designing the Trusted Trader Programme.   Below is some information from the Border Force website:   “The Border Force is developing a Trusted Trader Programme and is working with industry throughout the design phase.  The Programme will have a differentiated, trust based regulatory framework based on partnerships and shared responsibility.”   “The Trusted Trader Programme seeks to provide trade facilitation benefits to those economic operators with strong security practices and a history of compliant behaviour.” “To this end, Border Force  is working with industry to design and implement a Trusted Trader Programme by July 2015. The Trusted Trader Programme will be open to all parties within the supply chain who meet the defined minimum standards.  The Trusted Trader Programme will refine our approach to managing risks in the supply chain; and at the same time provide enhanced border clearance privileges to recognised trusted traders.  Intelligent intervention in the trade environment, coupled with mutual recognition of our Trusted Trader Programme will decrease the administrative and regulatory burden on industry, and increase the international competitiveness of Australian businesses.”   Currently the Trusted Trader Program is being trialled as a pilot programme with four Exporters joining the programme initially and will extend after the initial period.  As further information comes to hand we will provide updates accordingly.

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland has been experiencing delays in berthing vessels, and a number of container vessels are at anchorage each day. Increases in vessel calls, terminal congestion, and labor shortages have all contributed to this situation.   Oakland Chronic yard congestion compounded by severe chassis shortages.   Dual transactions were shut off early at 2:45pm every day. Oakland operations were congested and turn times averaged 69 minutes. Oakland is extremely short of truck power; new dispatches are not being accepted less than 10 working days out.  Truck power situation is primarily caused by slow import deliveries, early afternoon restrictions, and driver waiting time for a bare chassis to become available.   Truck Power Truck Power across the USA to perform import store door deliveries and export door pickups continues to be a major concern especially in the Midwest, Gulf, Northeast, California and the SEA/TAC-Portland corridor.  There is a shortage of trucking companies willing to dray hazardous containers..

New Tayper Website

Tayper is happy to announce the launch of our new website!   www.tayper.com.au   Please visit our website for helpful links, tools, news announcements and department contacts. We would appreciate any feedback by contacting us through the contact us page on the website or by emailing info@tayper.com.au