Australia leads on paperless trading agenda in APEC

Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, today committed Australia to taking a leading role in assisting APEC economies to implement paperless trading.

"Paperless trading is about improving the trading environment for Australian businesses in the APEC region by increasing the speed of customs clearances and making trade administration more transparent," Mr Vaile said.

"APEC economies are aiming to implement paperless trading by 2005 for developed economies and 2010 for developing economies.  Australia and China are leading the paperless trading agenda through our hosting of an APEC E-Commerce and Paperless Trading Symposium in Beijing in February 2001."

Speaking on the second day of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Brunei, Mr Vaile announced that Australia will fund participation by developing economies in the APEC Symposium as part of Australia's commitment to overcoming the digital divide in the Asia Pacific. 

"Our assistance will enable key officials from PNG, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to participate in the APEC Symposium," Mr Vaile said.

"This will, in turn, hasten the spread of paperless trading to these economies and remove another barrier to the smooth export of Australian goods and services.  Automation of trade administration substantially reduces the threat to regular exporters of arbitrary intervention by trade administration agencies. 

"The Symposium will allow Australia to showcase our leadership on the New Economy in both the public and private sector.  It will also ensure that a new range of trade barriers are not built into the electronic trade administration systems currently under development," Mr Vaile said.

APEC comprises: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, The Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, US and Vietnam.

Contact:  John Kunkel in Brunei (08) 740 358; from Aust. (6738 740 358)