New Webpage Assists Australian Exporters to Thailand

Trade Minister Mark Vaile today welcomed the launch of a new webpage that will help Australian exporters take advantage of the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) that comes into force on 1 January 2005.

"The website offers exporters a one-stop-shop, bringing together all necessary information and export documentation," Mr Vaile said.

"It provides exporters with user friendly step-by-step guides, examples to follow, and links to other sources of information designed to make using and benefiting from TAFTA as easy as possible.

"The new webpage underlines the Government's commitment to helping Australian business meet TAFTA's procedural and documentary requirements and thereby reap the significant commercial opportunities the agreement offers. It builds on the business seminars conducted by Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) throughout Australia and the well-received Business Guide to TAFTA produced by DFAT .

"TAFTA is good for Australian business. On 1 January 2005 it will eliminate more than half of Thailand's 5,000 tariffs accounting for nearly 80 per cent of Australian exports. By 2010, 95 per cent of all current trade between Australia and Thailand will be tariff free.

"The removal of Thai tariff peaks, which in some cases are as high as 200 per cent, will open new opportunities for Australia to export more simply and elaborately transformed manufactures and to move up the value-added production chain . Additionally, there will be benefits for Australian investors, service providers and business travellers."

Exporters will need to register with the Australian Industry Group or the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an exporter of particular goods to Thailand and to fill out a 'certificate of origin' for each shipment they plan to export. The webpage will make this process easier and can be found on the DFAT website.

Contact: Mr Vaile's office 02 6277 7420 - DFAT Media Liaison 02 6261 1555