BDO Luncheon: US Tariffs – Strategic Planning

With the ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs, Australian exporters are facing new challenges and opportunities. 🇺🇸🇦🇺

Last Thursday, BDO in Australia, in collaboration with the Export Council of Australia, hosted an insightful luncheon focused on the implications of proposed U.S. trade measures on Australian manufacturers and exporters.

The event was designed to emphasise the critical need for Australian businesses to stay ahead of evolving tariff policies, understand their broader implications in light of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), as well as explore new markets and stay competitive.

With expert insights from Leonie Ferretter – Tax, Trade, Customs & Excise Partner in BDO, the discussion shed light on the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for navigating these changes.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to BDO in Australia for hosting this valuable luncheon and for providing a platform to discuss such crucial issues facing Australian exporters today.

A huge thank you to all the business representatives who joined us for this special discussion. We look forward to your continued engagement in ECA’s trade-focused initiatives.
Leon Skaliotis; Michael Elligett; Jeff Cottee; Christian Young; Vincent Candrawinata; Eduard Otter; Demi Stefanova GAICD, MBA, M.Eng., PMP; Ryan Pollett; Steve May; Daniel Coote; Burton Andrews; Dianne Tipping; My Nguyen

Trade Wars Unpacked: Looking Beyond the News Headlines

US trade policies, including the imposition of additional tariffs, are causing major disruptions and uncertainty in global trading rules and dynamics.

To assist Australian exporters gain some clarity, the Export Council of Australia hosted an online briefing Trade Wars Unpacked: Beyond the News Headlines. This event was attended by a range of industry experts and business leaders.

Points raised in the discussion included:

• Be prepared for increased competition in markets beyond the US, as other competitors shift their products and services away from the US.
• To mitigate fluctuations in any given market, it is important to diversify and export to a range of markets.
• When preparing contracts with partners in the US, it is important to be clear about who will be responsible for (the additional) costs.
• It is crucial to weigh all of the risks and costs of moving operations into the US, especially if the US economy slows considerably.
• The government must provide appropriate funding support to SME exporters during these uncertain times.
• In addition to tariffs, expect US authorities to tighten customs regulations, and impose additional paperwork to deter importation.
• Businesses should stay informed, work with champions in the US, and plan for various contingencies (including with foresighting tools such as scenario planning).

Thank you to all of the business representatives who joined us for this timely discussion. We look forward to your continued engagement in ECA’s trade-focused initiatives.

Women in International Business Morning Tea

The Export Council of Australia proudly hosted a morning tea in advance of International Women’s Day 2025, bringing together Australian exporters to discuss how we can Accelerate Action towards greater equality for women in international business.

The discussion highlighted key insights and challenges faced by women-led businesses, including:

• Access to capital is crucial for global trade, yet women-led businesses receive only a fraction of venture capital. The right partners and support can make all the difference in an export journey.
• Confidence and purpose are key—women-led entrepreneurs succeed by knowing their “why” and believing in their mission.
• Investing in women-led enterprises and promoting diversity within organisations are not just ethical choices but strategic advantages. Supporting and mentoring women entrepreneurs can create a more inclusive, resilient, and competitive global trade environment.

With thanks to Nicole Salisbury, CEO of MusoLingo, for sharing her inspiring journey into the world of international business.

A big thank you to the incredible panelists for sharing their expertise and perspectives:

• Cass Spies – CEO, Twisted Healthy Treats
• Nadia Taylor AM – Director, TNA Solution and Nadia and Alf Taylor Foundation
• Paula Obeid-Green – Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations, Resmed
• Warwick Scherf – Director – Export, Investment NSW

The insights and success stories are invaluable in showcasing the contributions of businesswomen to the global market and the opportunity to do good through inclusive, ethical and sustainable trade.

We appreciate all the incredible business representatives who attended and look forward to your continued involvement in ECA’s initiatives.

International Trade Outlook webinar: Navigating Challenges in 2025

The Export Council of Australia, in partnership with IP Australia, recently hosted an insightful webinar, International Trade Outlook: Navigating Challenges in 2025.

Key messages from the discussion include:

• IP matters more now than ever before, especially if you are establishing operations or seeking to share your innovation or technology with others.
• Because of the shifting geopolitical landscape and the associated risks, it is crucial to seek advice from experts.
• There will be likely disruptions in shipping routes as a result of reconfiguring of supply chains.
• Consumers and investors globally will continue to value environmental sustainability practices, despite some backtracking from other jurisdictions.

Thank you to our panelists for sharing their expertise:

• Stefanie Harter, Senior Manager (Export Capability), Export Council of Australia (Moderator)
• Nicolaj Noes, Executive Vice President, DP World Oceania
• Danijela Žuvela Zuvela, Geopolitical Analyst, Fortescue
• Michael Falk, Chief Economist, IP Australia

We also thank the audience for your attendance and for your ongoing interest in global trade.

There is a recording available of the webinar. Please contact info@export.org.au to obtain access.

Agricultural Traceability Roundtable (Los Angeles, US)

What is the cost of doing nothing?

Last week, we hosted a lively roundtable on agricultural traceability in Los Angeles, uniting industry leaders from Australia and the US across sectors like red meat, seafood, citrus, fashion, and traceability tech.

Traceability- the ability to track and trace products- plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety and enhancing brand storytelling. It boosts supply chain transparency and efficiency, helps businesses meet regulatory requirements, builds consumer trust, and addresses sustainability challenges.

It became evident during the discussions that Australia’s enhanced traceability systems have helped Australian exporters be more competitive in the US market, where strict standards are highly valued.

Doing nothing on traceability, however, could mean losing market share, and diminishing the Australian brand.

The discussion highlighted that:

• Mapping of and engagement with stakeholders are crucial first steps in establishing good traceability systems and maybe a basis for cost-sharing efforts
• The narrative must focus on how traceability enhances supply chain efficiency and offers longer-term benefits to encourage adoption, especially in sectors that may be slower to adopt these systems without government pressure
• Interoperability remains a challenge, which if addressed could help reduce costs, and help better manage risks, but will require coordinated effort among supply chain partners
• ESG initiatives are being pursued, but traceability should be incorporated in these efforts to ensure they are meaningful and monetised by producers
• Effective data management can identify operational efficiencies and enhance supply chain performance, leading to cost savings and increased productivity
• Leveraging technology to streamline data processes will be vital in achieving these outcomes
• Ongoing education and advocacy are key to showcase traceability’s value in brand storytelling, consumer trust, and market access while encouraging clear, standardised regulations that foster compliance and growth

We’re excited to continue discussions with participants and industry leaders on advancing traceability systems between Australia and the US.

Thank you to Matthew Worrell, Minister-Counsellor for Agriculture in Washington, for his opening remarks, and to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for creating this opportunity to engage with key trading partners on agricultural traceability.

Thank you to the Meat Import Council of America (MICA) for partnering with us on this initiative.

Premier’s NSW Export Awards Gala Ceremony 2024

Premier’s NSW Export Awards Gala Ceremony 2024 – A Night to Remember!

400+ guests, 78 finalists, 18 winners—one extraordinary night! The 2024 Premier’s NSW Export Awards have officially concluded for another year.

On Friday, 11th October, we proudly hosted the 62nd Premier’s NSW Export Awards Gala Ceremony at Sydney Town Hall. It was an unforgettable evening of excitement, recognition, and celebration, honouring the excellence of NSW’s export community.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists, whose remarkable contributions to the global economy were celebrated on this prestigious stage. Your achievements reflect the innovation and resilience of NSW exporters.

🏆 Check out the full list of winners here: https://lnkd.in/gqMUBm7m

A special thank you to our esteemed presenters for announcing winners across 18 categories, including the coveted NSW Exporter of the Year award.

We were also honoured to have NSW Minister for Industry and Trade, The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP, join us in recognising the outstanding exporters in attendance.

Our deepest gratitude goes to our valued partners: Investment NSW, DHL Express, Export Finance Australia, BDO, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Xe.com. Your support made this event possible.

📸 View the highlights of this incredible night celebrating excellence in export through the media link below.
https://lnkd.in/gjvP9WSs

Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to making this night so memorable. We look forward to celebrating with you again in the future!

APEC: Growing Indigenous Businesses Through Trade (Phase 3) – Mexico

Australia strengthens bond with Mexican Indigenous communities.

In a workshop held in Mexico City last week, Arnold Jorge and Angela Wright from the Export Council of Australia and Australian First Nations representative, Sharon Brindley from Jala Jala Treats, are proud to have engaged with Mexican Indigenous entrepreneurs on the opportunities from global trade.

The two-day workshop brought together Indigenous businesses from various states of Mexico representing products such as traditional clothing, jewellery and dolls, coffee, honey, natural salts, wine and spirits. Most of the participants were women entrepreneurs.

The dialogue highlighted:

• how exports could help increase incomes for their (Indigenous) communities, making new connections and learning innovative practices, as well as promoting their culture around the world
• that export can be complex and come with substantial risks, and therefore research and ongoing capacity building is essential
• the practical aspects of trade, including the application of AI to market research, why HS codes and tariff duties matter, that knowing Incoterms (or International Commercial Terms) is part of the language of doing business, and that alternative business models can enhance revenue sources
• the value of international marketing, such as segmenting customers and how to engage them, and adopting products to the market
• how Indigenous women succeeded despite the significant challenges and societal constraints through determination and entrepreneurship.

We very much appreciated opening remarks from Mexico’s Under Secretary of Economy for Foreign Trade, Mr Alejandro Encinas, and the Australian Ambassador, Ms Rachel Moseley, who also hosted a networking event for the workshop participants. We wish to thank all of our workshop guest speakers, including from Bancomext (a financial institution), SEPOMEX (Mexico’s postal service), IMPI (agency for intellectual property protection), Economia officials (including experts in trade agreements), and INPI (agency providing Indigenous support). We also recognise the contribution of Perla Buenrostro Rodríguez of Bolder Group in connecting with candidates for this initiative.

We thank the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for funding this project under the auspices of APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and for the invaluable support received from the Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, especially Gabriela Mendez. Thank you also to Penny Toledo.

We look forward to future commercial collaboration between Australian and Mexican Indigenous businesses, including our participants:

Abelardo Peña Tinoco; Angélica Cosio – Dueña y Fundadora de Maxa kwaxi, artista inhata; Diana Pérez soriano; Demetria Reyes; Elfego López Peña; Erika Tezmol Ramirez; Industria Silvicola; Industria Silvícola Zona Maya; LAURA HERNANDEZ; Lucero Díaz García; Mario Hernández; Nalyn Chablé; Ollin Quetza AC Fundación Rocio Aslida Norzagaray Sandoval; Uriel Vasquez.

NSW Export Award Event – ASEAN Focus – Special guest: Mr. Andrew Parker

Last Friday, the Export Council of Australia hosted a roundtable luncheon, featuring our special guest, NSW Government’s Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner for ASEAN – Mr. Andrew Parker who was visiting Sydney for the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum at the ICC Sydney.

The discussion centred around the growing significance of ASEAN markets for Australian exporters, highlighting both opportunities and challenges.

Mr. Parker emphasised that the ASEAN countries are key markets for Australian exporters, especially in sectors such as healthcare, education, technology, and food & beverage.

However, navigating these markets is not without its complexities, including understanding local regulations, cultural differences, and specific product requirements. These factors are crucial for success in these diverse and dynamic markets.

Exporters at the event also noted the strong demand for high and premium-quality Australian products in ASEAN countries. While the market potential is immense, they acknowledged the importance of understanding local preferences and societal norms to ensure successful market entry.

To navigate these complexities, Mr. Parker advised leveraging local expertise, finding reliable local partners, and thoroughly understanding the market landscape before expansion.

We would like to give a special thanks to:
Mr. Andrew Parker – Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner for ASEAN (Investment NSW)
Mr. Warwick Scherf – Director Export & Exports Programs (Investment NSW)

We very much appreciate the business representatives that joined, and invite your ongoing involvement in ECA activities:

Ayushi Dahiya, Eric LIU, Ferdy Bong, George Houssos, Jacqueline Hutton, Kath McCollim, Linda Stanojevic, Louie Coorey, Mike Foster, Ram Iyer, Samiul Karim, Chandra Sekhar M., Shelly Bengiat, Steve Solanki, Steven Hudson, Su Zhang, Tim Mitchell, Vincent Candrawinata, Dianne Tipping, My Nguyen

NSW Export Award Event – ASEAN Focus – Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

Being part of a supportive global trading community matters now more than ever.

As part of the NSW Premier’s Export Awards, the Export Council of Australia has been hosting a series of small-group luncheons. A key aim has been our desire to continue to celebrate exporter’s hard work and achievements.

We are so glad to learn that participants have enjoyed these luncheons. They told us that they especially valued the new connections made, which some leading immediately to commercial partnerships and exports to new markets.

With our principal partner, Investment NSW, last week at the Four Seasons hotel in Sydney, we held another such event, with special guests from the diplomatic missions of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Their presence reflected our theme this year on ASEAN.

They highlighted the opportunities for growth in two-way trade and investment with Australia, including in industries such as green energy and tech, food and beverage, healthcare, and education.

Our guest exporters shared extraordinary stories of their journeys, including:

• How a health treatment for their grandmother became a foundation for a growing international business
• That bringing Australian top-level education to the modest section of communities in partner countries can be profitable
• Even in an extremely competitive segment, a fintech start-up can grow market share quickly
• A reminder that playing the long game means resilience and a remarkable bounce-back from a severe demand downturn during Covid
• A well-recognised and established Australian brand can still be a new player on global markets.

These gatherings have reminded us of how important it is to engage regularly with peers – not just in the context of establishing new contacts, but in terms of meaningful interchange of views and ideas. Of sharing insights and giving back. It is about being part of a community. We enjoyed it so much, we intend to organise more.

We send our special thanks to:

• Mr. Nguyen Phu Hoa – Trade Commissioner of Viet Nam to Australia
• Ms. Hataya KHUSAKUL – Consul General of Royal Thai Consulate-General
• Mr. Kanya Khammoungkhoun – Minister Counselor, Deputy Chief of mission of Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Ms. Tania Panagoda – Team leader for the ASEAN NSW government
• Mr. Michael Reznikov – State Director of Export Finance Australia (EFA)
• Mr. Ben Rose – Senior Corporate FX Specialist of Xe.com

We very much appreciate the business representatives that joined, and invite your ongoing involvement in ECA activities:

Vincent Candrawinata, Cindy Hurley Leister, Craig Shepherd, Christian Young, Cynthia Dearin GAICD, Leon Skaliotis, Jacqueline Hutton, Scott Nolan, Danko Tran (Danko CockatooAdventures), Christine VU, Allan Nguyen, Kala Philip (MAICD, GAICD), Steven Hudson, Ferdy Bong, Shelly Bengiat, Ayushi, Alison. L., Dianne Tipping, Arnold Jorge, My Nguyen.