List of recommendations

3.118The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, in collaboration with stakeholders, explore options for more information and data to be made publicly available on the uptake and utilisation of Australia’s free trade agreements.

3.119The Committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to support and collaborate with industry bodies in efforts to build awareness and capacity for Australian businesses to engage with international trade and free trade agreements.

3.120The Committee recommends that the Australian Government develop an overarching strategy for building awareness and capacity for Australian businesses to engage with international trade and free trade agreements.

3.121The Committee recommends that the Australian Government support research to better understand the Australian community’s attitude toward trade and their perception of the economic and social benefits, including across different demographics and geographic locations.

4.142The Committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to resource the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and other relevant departments and agencies, to work proactively with industry to identify and resolve non-tariff barriers to trade.

4.143The Committee recommends that the Australian Government prioritise increased efforts to broaden and diversify trade relationships to mitigate the against future shocks in existing trade relationships. This should include:

4.144The Committee recommends that the Australian Government accelerate initiatives to improve consistency and streamline requirements involved in accessing benefits under free trade agreements, particularly relating to rules of origin and certificates of origin.

4.145The Committee recommends that the Australian Government give greater consideration to standards harmonisation during free trade agreement negotiations and continue to proactively engage in advocating for standards harmonisation at the multilateral level.

5.138The Committee recommends that the Australian Government support research and other initiatives to capture data to better understand how and to what extent certain groups such as small and medium sized enterprises, First Nations businesses, and diaspora communities engage with and benefit from trade and free trade agreements.

5.139The Committee recommends that the Australian Government develop a long-term strategy for enhanced targeted education and outreach programs among certain groups such as small and medium sized enterprises, First Nations, and diaspora communities to build awareness and capacity to engage with and benefit from trade.

5.140The Committee recommends that the Australian Government prioritise and expedite efforts to address barriers and challenges to the export of native foods and botanicals.

5.141The Committee recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Austrade provide awareness and capacity building communications material and engagement activities in non-English languages to more effectively engage with the Australian diaspora communities of key trading partners.

5.142The Committee recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Austrade promote engagement activities and trade facilitation initiatives in non-English media and social media, where appropriate, to more effectively engage with the Australian diaspora communities of key trading partners.