Current edition

International Trade

Minter Ellison’s International Trade group provides support across the full range of issues relating to the regulation of imports, exports and foreign investment. Our experience ranges from customs issues and anti-dumping through to support with matters arising under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). This highly-regarded team has been ranked by leading international legal directory Chambers Global as an Australian market leader and described as “the foremost in the region for advice on international issues and trade policy”.

Our extensive expertise in international trade law includes advising government and private sector clients on a wide range of trade-related legal and policy issues and acting as legal counsel/adviser to governments (and affected industries) in WTO dispute settlement actions. Our specialist lawyers also have considerable experience providing advice in relation to foreign investment in Australia and in New Zealand. We have a strong track record in dealing with the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Overseas Investment Commission and offer practical advice to improve the success of investment applications.

Publications
Trade Law Focus
May 2012

Welcome to the May edition of Trade Law Focus. In this edition we give an update on developments in the Australian Government's negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, especially in health and intellectual property, and comment on submissions received on the Defence Trade Controls Bill. We also highlight a recent announcement to ease sanctions against Burma, signalling a major shift in foreign policy toward that country and examine the FIRB report on the 'national interest test' in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act.

Alert – Transition to new Australian sanctions regime is complete
14 March 2012

On Wednesday March 7, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) released its lists of Designated and Declared Persons and Designated Entities under the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011. Importantly, this means the new Australian sanctions regime is now in place with immediate effect.  In this Alert we consider the new sanctions regime, the Designated and Declared Persons and Designated Entities list and further restrictions on financial transactions with Iran.

Trade Law Focus
December 2011

Welcome to the December edition of Trade Law Focus. In this edition we update on developments with the Australian Government's overhaul of its trade laws, notably in the areas of strategic export controls, sanctions multilateral and autonomous sanctions, and the anti-dumping and countervailing duty system. We also provide our regular summary of recent developments in trade law in Australia and New Zealand.

Changes to Australia's Anti Dumping / Countervailing Regime
29 November 2011

The Australian Government is undertaking significant reforms of Australia's existing anti-dumping and countervailing regime. These reforms take into account the Productivity Commission's recent report into the area, the views of state and territory governments, the reports of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, and submissions made by stakeholders.

Alert – Exposure draft of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations released for public comment
6 October 2011

Following the enactment of the Autonomous Sanctions Act earlier this year, the Government has released the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations for public comment. In this alert we explain how the new regulations differ from the existing autonomous sanctions regime, the most critical of which is the harmonisation of the scope of measures under Australia’s autonomous sanctions regime and those imposed under UN-based measures