2026 AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING & LOGISTICS CONFERENCE

FTA / APSA - ADVOCACY

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources has commenced public consultation on Strengthening Australia's Trade Remedies System, with submissions due by 14 December 2026. One of the key topics included in this consultation is the potential development of a ruling system to determine whether dumping duty is payable.

This is a long-standing area of advocacy for Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA).FTA/APSA will be preparing a submission and are seeking member views to help shape an informed industry response.

Feedback covering experiences with the current trade remedies system, barriers to participation, and views on how a ruling system could operate effectively would be especially valuable.

Member feedback is requested by close of business 5 December 2025  READ MORE

Escalation of Container Detention Concerns - FTA/APSA Meet with ACCC Commissioner

FTA and APSA recently met with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Commissioner Anna Brakey, to discuss the highly anticipated 2025 ACCC Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report and reiterate key concerns previously raised by industry regarding Detention charging practices, Terminal Access Charges (TAC), and Empty Container Park (ECP) notification fees.

This high-level engagement reinforces FTA/APSA's ongoing commitment to advocating for a fair, transparent, and sustainable operating environment across Australia's ports and logistics networks.

We invite members to submit examples of container detention fee applications that appear inconsistent with operational realities. Please remove or anonymise any commercially sensitive information before sending. Should you wish to contribute, please submit any examples to us via email.  READ MORE

Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia - Preparing for Emerging Industries Across Northern Australia - Call for Feedback

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have been formally invited by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia to make a submission to its new inquiry into preparing for emerging industries across Northern Australia.

FTA/APSA will prepare a consolidated industry submission to the Committee and invites members to provide feedback, operational examples, or key points for incorporation. Should members wish to provide feedback, please send any input via email to Tom Jensen by Friday, 5 December 2025  .READ MORE

FTA / APSA - TRAINING

2025-2026 FTA ONLINE CPD & CBC TRAINING PACKAGES

MANDATORY ABF CPD MODULE
 
FTA has received confirmation from the Australian Border Force that the Mandatory ABF Module for the customs broker licensing period ending 31 March 2026 will be scheduled to go live on 1 January 2026. The Department will publish an ACN shortly with further details.

FTA / APSA - IN THE MEDIA

FTA / APSA - OUT & ABOUT

pictured L to R - Sal Milici, Kelly McGinty Powerhouse Logistics,  Marcus Denny and Amira Amin from MeshedUp.

FTA / APSA - UPCOMING EVENTS

What Forwarding & Customs Technology Would Look Like
If It Was Built Around You

Join John Park in conversation with Yojee CEO Mark Connell and CRO Shane D'Aprile as they unpack what modern freight forwarders and customs brokers actually need from their systems today across operations, management and I.T.

MeshedUp
 From Carrier to CargoWise in Seconds - Take Control of Your Rates

Discover how Meshed Up's docMesh platform automates the import and management of carrier buy rates directly into CargoWise — reducing manual effort, improving accuracy, and helping forwarders take control of their rate data.

Capital Trade Credit Solutions
Protecting Cash Flow in a Changing Trade Landscape

In this webinar, Jamie Draper and Jordan Penny of Capital Trade Credit Solutions will unpack how trade credit insurance can protect your business from bad debts, sharpen premiums, and give you the insights you need to trade with confidence.

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LOGISTICS

Victorian government challenged over Williamstown Road curfews

A MOVE by the Victorian government to impose night-time and weekend no-truck zones in Melbourne's inner west highlights the lack of action on upgrading important feeder routes, the Container Transport Alliance Australia says.

The Victorian Minister for Ports & Freight Melissa Horne issued a statement over the weekend that a night-time and weekend no-truck zone would be enforced on Williamstown Road between Geelong Road in Seddon and the West Gate Freeway in Yarraville on weekdays from 8pm to 6am and over weekends from 8pm Friday to 6am Monday when the West Gate Tunnel opens mid-December. READ MORE (story credit DCN)

There are a number of terminal outages in coming days and whilst we have previously posted notices we thought a reminder will help to assist in planning

E-commerce: 150 EUR customs duty exemption threshold to be removed as of 2026

A big development in the EU with all e-commerce to be treated as regular cargo (including the introduction of cost recovery "e-commerce handling fees. The change is the first achievement of the 2023 Customs Reform proposal by the Commission to address the challenges of e-commerce stemming from the dramatic increase of low-value goods arriving from non-EU countries directly to EU consumers.

Today, parcels valued below EUR 150 that are sent from a third country to a consumer in the EU are exempted from customs duties although being subject to VAT and customs declarations. Given the evolution of the e-commerce model, the exemption is no longer justified and creates unfair competition. The removal of the threshold aims to level the playing field between ecommerce (direct imports of individual parcels up to 150 EUR) and traditional retail (imports of goods in bulk). READ MORE

Warehouse and Depot Security Identification Card (WADSIC)

Veritas offers a comprehensive solution for customs depots and warehouse license holders to meet their WADSIC compliance obligations. By using a dedicated WADSIC portal, authorised representatives can effectively manage their personnel as prescribed in both ACN 2022/46 and ACN 2024/21.READ MORE

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SEA FREIGHT

Part X Competition & Consumer Act

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AIR FREIGHT

Singapore has revealed the details of its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy on all flights departing the city, with fees set to be significantly lower than initially forecast. The levy will cover not just passenger services but also cargo, as well as business and general aviation flights.

For cargo flights, the levy will be imposed on shippers - instead of aircraft operators - with charges varying according to geographical distant - READ MORE  (story credit Flight Global).

Emirates orders 65 additional Boeing 777X aircraft, worth US$ 38 billion at Dubai Airshow 2025

Emirates, the world's largest international airline, today announced orders for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft, powered by GE 9X engines, worth US$ 38 billion at list prices, on the opening day of Dubai Airshow 2025.

This takes the airline's total orderbook with Boeing to 315 widebody aircraft, comprising 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Boeing 777 freighters, and 35 Boeing 787s.  READ MORE

Please refer the Qantas Freight site for updates on operational matters. 

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BIOSECURITY

Please click HERE to review the DAFF Biosecurity Report -  sponsored by TaluxIQ

TRADE

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In this latest edition from Austrade read about 

• Australian Export Award finalists

• Ne market access for Australian farmers

• Why UK retailers are choosing Aussie red met
  READ MORE 

Trade Data Updates Week Ending 18th November 2025

National ports, the Australian Bureau of statistics and data from other sources  

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Anti-Dumping Notices Data Updates Week Ending 18th November 2025

FTA has compiled a list of Anti-Dumping Notices from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources 

BORDER

Mike Jeffrey 2GB / 4BC spoke with FTA member Kelly Crossley (Director of Transitainer WA) about the surge in black-market tobacco entering Australia. Criminal gangs are using the identities of legitimate small businesses to smuggle illegal cigarettes, costing the government an estimated $3.3 billion in lost tax revenue each year.. - LISTEN HERE

The Commerce (Trade Description) Regulations 2016 (link below)– current version) is due to sunset in 2026. The  Australian Border Force is proposing to re-new this Regulation without any changes. They have determined, in consultation with multiple Agencies and other industry bodies, that they are still fit-for-purpose as presented. LINK HERE

Cops put the heat on drug smugglers

shores in the past month. Criminal plots have attempted to smuggle almost $50 million worth of cocaine into the country, hidden in the motor compartments of refrigerated shipping containers.?READ MORE ( story credit DCN)

Contact John Park to feature your organisation or service in an upcoming edition - prospectus HERE

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WEBINARS & RECORDINGS

Stay at the cutting edge through participation in live webinars and access to recordings – all are FREE & EXCLUSIVE to Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) members.     LOGIN REQUIRED 

Operational Support
For the timeliest response from our team, FTA / APSA members are reminded to send requests for operational support to support@FTAlliance.com.au

Training, Finance & Events Enquiries
For the timeliest response from our team, FTA / APSA members are reminded to send training, finance, events and general administration enquiries to Training@FTAlliance.com.au

To select your communication preferences please click on "Update Subscription Preferences" at the bottom of any FTA notice -  READ MORE

SPONSORS

FTA and APSA are proud to connect members with the following sponsors as leading suppliers of services to the freight and trade sectors.

Sponsorship prospectus is available HERE