FTA Portal expanded to boost Australian services exports

Australia'sservices sector can better access the full potential of our Free TradeAgreements (FTAs), with a recent upgrade to the award-winning (FTA) Portal.

Theexpansion offers Australian services providers up-to-date guidance on sellingto overseas customers, travelling overseas to supply services, and establishinga competitive global presence.

Portalupgrades now include information on the commitments FTA partners have madeavailable to Australia's architectural, engineering, legal, accounting,auditing and taxation sectors. These sectors accounted for more than $8.5billion in services exports last year. Other sectors will be added by the endof June 2018.

TheTurnbull Coalition Government is committed to helping Australian businessesgrow and create new jobs through increased exports.

The Portalwon 'Best Applications Development' at the Australian Government ICT Awards in2016 and attracts around 2,600 unique users each week. It is a keyinstrument in helping Australian businesses make the most of internationaltrade agreements.

The Portalalready provides free information on tariffs and rules of origin, helpingtraders identify opportunities in specific markets. It also includes aninteractive tool to compare bilateral and regional FTAs to identify the bestaccess for exports.

A recentstudy of FTA Utilisation, commissioned bythe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and conducted by PwC, foundcommitments to liberalise services are still new territory forbusinesses. The expanded Portal is designed to help Australian servicesproviders better understand how trade agreements can assist theirbusinesses.

Goods and services commitments in new FTAs, such as the recently signed TPP-11, will be added to the Portal once theagreements enter into force.