The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) has announced new and extended flight capacity on numerous routes with multiple airlines. 

In particular, Qantas has extended services to February 2021, and put on a fifth service to Shanghai on Wednesdays. This provides businesses with more surety and ability to forward plan. Qantas IFAM flights will shift to volumetric pivot and loose pricing from 1 November in line with usual market practice. The IFAM flight schedule will be updated to reflect these prices on 30 October. Qantas IFAM flights are subject to change depending on market supply and demand.

Any freight forwarder can now access IFAM supported flights at any time – there is no longer a 72 hour window. Contact your preferred freight forwarder to access these flights. 

Full details on the latest IFAM outbound and inbound flights are available on the IFAM website.

Exporters should speak to their freight forwarder and visit the IFAM webpage for further assistance.  If you have any questions or need more information, please email Airfreight@austrade.gov.au, or Austrade State Director WA, Jane Caforio, on jane.caforio@austrade.gov.au.  More...  |  Related:  Australian mangoes ripe for export success thanks to IFAM  Source:  Federal Minister for Trade  |  Source:  Austrade  |  Photo:  Qantas

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has cut tariffs on Australian mandarin exports to Japan, helping these exports grow by 29 per cent in 2019 to reach $10 million.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Japan is a key market for Western Australia's premium mandarins.  In just the month of August this year, WA exported $372,000 of mandarins to Japan, our largest market for this citrus fruit. The State's second largest mandarin market is the United Arab Emirates, where WA sent $70,000 worth in the year to August 2020.

Fresh navel orange exports to Japan have also increased significantly.  In 2019, total WA exports there were worth $535,200, but in the first eight months of 2020 (January to August) exports reached $1.2 million.  More...  Source:  DFAT / Kate Pritchett, DPIRD  |  Photo/Graphic: DFAT 

Join this webcast on 2 November at 8.30am AWST to hear the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment discuss Australia’s free trade agreements (FTAs) and what they mean for your business, jobs and growth and Australia’s economy.

There will be a spotlight on Australia’s FTA with the United States which is celebrating its 15th year and continuing to open up significant opportunities for exporters and investors.

You will also hear from top trade leaders, including: Frances Adamson, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Austrade’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Tim Beresford; April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer, American Chamber of Commerce in Australia; Alan Oppenheim, Managing Director, Ego Pharmaceuticals; and Mike Tristram, Chief Executive Officer, Trisco Foods.  More...  Source:  Austrade / DFAT  |  Photo:  WA Agrifood Export eNews

Strict social distancing and travel guidelines over Korea’s largest holiday period, Chuseok, continued to impact the food service sector, Austrade reports in its latest market insight. This may have impacted Australia’s food and beverages exports into Korea, including beef.

Austrade says extended weekly International Freight Assistance Mechanism flights to Seoul will benefit Australian exporters of beef, chilled salmon and kingfish, asparagus and broccollini.

For further assistance, please contact Austrade.  More...   | Related:  Latest insights from Austrade  |  Latest outbound and inbound IFAM flights  |  Source:  Austrade  |  Photo: Alexander Nachev / Unsplash

The growing focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions around the world is driving a shift in the red meat sector, and it will be the market – rather than regulators – motivating change, according to a newly-released industry report.

While challenges remain, the trend towards climate-friendly meat will also offer opportunity for meat industry players, including those in Australia, says global food and agribusiness specialist Rabobank in the report Unlocking Climate-Friendly Meat; Supply Chain Initiatives Will Be Key.

As community demand for better environmental outcomes continues to gain momentum both locally and globally, opportunities exist for red meat supply chain stakeholders to implement programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while retaining consumer trust, and promoting social acceptance, the report says.  More...  Source:  Rabobank

How can we accelerate new trade and investment to secure Australia’s economic future?

Trade and investment strategies that respond to the new global landscape can boost jobs and growth, and speed up Australia’s economic recovery.

CSIRO and Austrade have collaborated to investigate and identify global trade and investment megatrends emerging in the mid and post-COVID world.

Join an online panel of industry experts on 5 November 2020 at 8am AWST to discuss this strategic foresight study and the changes to global trade and investment likely to occur over the coming months and years that will impact the Australian economy.  More...  Source:  Austrade  |  Photo:  Bernd Dittrich / Unsplash [Port of Hamburg]

To celebrate the remarkable resilience, ingenuity and courage shown across both the exporting community and the international companies that invest here, Austrade has paused the 2020 Australian Export and Investment Awards.

Instead of recognising top performers, there will be a celebration of the stories of businesses that have defied convention, gone out on a limb, adapted, and met the challenges of 2020 in unexpected and interesting ways.

The 2020 Australian Export and Investment Awards will be like no other.  Help celebrate achievements big and small, with your stories that will inspire exporters and investors alike, during these difficult times. Your remarkable efforts deserve to be recognised, so please share your story today.

Submissions deadline is this Sunday 25 October 2020.  More...  Source & Graphic:  Austrade

The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) is hosting four Asia Business Capability Workshops in Perth to support WA small and medium enterprises (SMEs) build awareness, knowledge and skills that support strong relationships and the development of trade opportunities with priority Asian markets.

Workshop activities will include interactive presentations, in-class exercises, group exercises, role-playing, business case review, Q&A session, panel discussions and interviews with country experts.

Each workshop will equip business managers with practical market knowledge and important cultural capability in developing high-level strategies to establish foundations for communicating with, and maintaining, positive interactions with Asian stakeholders and leading overseas expansion.

The in-person workshops, hosted in the Perth CBD, will be limited to 20 people per workshop to ensure a COVID-safe environment. 

•  Vietnam      12 November, 1pm-5pm AWST
•  Indonesia   18 November, 9am-1pm AWST
•  Philippines  23 November, 9am-1pm AWST
•  India           30 November, 9am-1pm AWST

More...  Source:  JTSI