This report argues that in Australia’s low tariff-rate environment, the costs of the tariffs arise primarily from the complexity of the tariff system, rather than from distortions to the economy. These costs are in addition to the tariff itself and increase costs of businesses, and...

This report looks at the economic impact that carbon border tariffs could have on Australia’s economy if appropriate measures are not taken to act on climate change now, in line with other key trading allies.

The McGowan Labor Government has unveiled a $1 billion economic and health relief package to support Western Australian businesses, households and community groups, and to boost the response by health and frontline services to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiative: Energy Assistance Payment expanded Initiative: No power...

This report assesses the extent of domestic and world economy risks from the current tensions in global trade arrangements.

Recent regulatory reform efforts in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) have included a number of rule changes aiming to contain electricity price rises driven by network investment by distributed network service providers (DNSPs). One focus area has been the economic inefficiencies of current network...

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) that will liberalise trade and investment between 12 Pacific-rim countries: New Zealand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Viet Nam. As the Depositary of the TPP Agreement...

Brings together a number of the core issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, and includes NSW trade statistics with TPP member nations. Introduction After 19 rounds of negotiations that began in Melbourne in 2010, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement – which includes 30...

This paper highlights the protectionist shift in Indonesia, and argue that this will harm Indonesia’s economic prospects. Key findings Despite increasing economic challenges, Indonesia is likely to continue raising non-tariff barriers to trade. These protectionist measures are likely to prove counterproductive, raising prices for Indonesian...

In 2013-14, Australian industry received over $17 billion in gross assistance from the Australian Government through budgetary outlays, tax concessions and tariffs according to the latest annual trade and assistance review by the Productivity Commission. Notably, budgetary assistance to industry in 2013-14 was about 17%...

This audit assessed the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service's administration of the Tariff Concession System. Audit objective and criteria The objective of the audit was to assess the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service's administration of the Tariff Concession System. To form a conclusion...

This review contains the Productivity Commission's latest quantitative estimates of Australian Government assistance to industry. draws attention to areas of government intervention that could be impeding economic growth identifies recent developments in industry assistance and international trade policy includes a chapter on the industry assistance...

This short paper explains Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs), which are payments for electricity fed into the supply grid from a renewable energy source. FiTs can be mandated by the government or offered voluntarily by an electricity retailer. The primary aim of FiTs is to encourage the...

A customs duty anomaly that has periodically attracted interest is the 5 per cent tariff on imported four- wheel-drive vehicles (4WDs) compared to a 15 per cent tariff on imported passenger motor vehicles (PMVs). The tariff rate differential exists because there is no tariff classification...