BULLA Dairy Foods (Bulla) has welcomed the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) with a visit by Prime Minister Tony Abbott to its Colac plant.

Exports are currently a small part of the Bulla business but this new trade agreement should see Bulla’s chilled and frozen dairy exports expand significantly. 

Allan Hood, Bulla Dairy Foods CEO, said of the agreement, “Australia is seeing strong demand from China for dairy. With the quality, taste and reputation of our products we expect this to continue to grow and now via the ChAFTA the progressive elimination of significant dairy tariffs will mean we are finally able to compete on an equal footing with New Zealand and the EU.

“It has been a privilege to have Prime Minister Tony Abbott visit our site in Colac today and showcase the impact the FTA will have on local businesses.” 

While Mr Hood felt the full potential of the ChAFTA would not be realised for several years Bulla has already recruited a team to engage potential partners in China and develop their export portfolio.

Bulla’s significant investment over the last few years in facilities at Colac including a state-of-the art Innovation Centre and Milk Separation Plant will support this growth trajectory via innovative new products and expanding current lines, Mr Hood said.

An iconic Australian brand, the Bulla family has been manufacturing quality dairy products for over 105 years.

Mr Hood said the ChAFTA would play an exciting part in Bulla's next chapter, “creating new jobs in the community, supporting local farmers and bringing premium dairy products to families across Australia and in new overseas markets”

www.bulla.com.au

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THE International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has launched its program of ‘expert rules’ to help resolve international cross-border commercial disputes.

Known as the ICC Expert Rules, the first of three showcase events to demonstrate the system took place in Dubai on January 14. Dubai was selected for the launch as it is one of the world’s major business dispute resolution hubs. 

Entering into force on February 1, the 2015 ICC Rules set out new parameters for ICC expert services, clarifying how parties can use experts and neutrals to help resolve their cross-border disputes at each step of the way. They will be administered by the ICC International Centre for ADR and will be made available in English, Spanish and French.

The panel of international speakers taking part in the launch event included Ali Al Aidarous International Legal Practice (UAE), managing attorney Ali Aidarous; KPMG Risk Consulting in Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia (EMA) head and partner Pablo Bernad, who is also a member of the Standing Committee for Expertise of the ICC International Centre for ADR; Fenwick Elliott (UK) partner Nicholas Gould; and Advokatfirman Runeland AB’s Aisha Nadar.

“Being a litigator and an international arbitrator, I may safely state that services related to ICC expertise are extremely useful tools for arbitration in the MENA region where there are no, or little, regulations in this regard,” Mr Aidarous said.

“ICC can definitely fill this gap by proposing and appointing an expert, as well as administering the expert proceedings at an international standard.”

Mr Aidarous said launching this new set of rules in the MENA region underlined ICC’s commitment to its international work. Over the last decade, ICC saw the number of cases involving parties from the MENA region increase.

Drawing on ICC’s 40-year experience in cross-border dispute resolution, and with specialist input from its membership in over 90 countries, the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR will replace the current ICC Rules for Expertise with three new sets of rules.

Each covers a distinct area of ICC’s dispute resolution services: the Proposal of Experts and Neutrals, the Appointment of Experts and Neutrals, and the Administration of Expertise Proceedings.

Hannah Tumpel, senior counsel and manager of the ICC International Centre for ADR said, “As all other sets of dispute resolution rules, the Expert Rules are specifically tailored to the needs and interest of international disputes.”

Ms Tumpel said the launch event program underscored how the new rules could leverage ICC’s unique international network when parties need support in identifying leading experts for arbitration and court proceedings. The event examined when and how to involve experts in international arbitration proceedings and provided examples of expert proceedings administered by ICC.

The rules also explicitly mention suitable neutrals such as mediators, conciliators or dispute board members.

The services provided by the ICC International Centre for ADR under these three revised sets of rules form an integral part of ICC’s suite of dispute resolution services, supporting businesses in sectors as varied as finance, construction, energy, telecommunication and transport among others. The new rules provide different ways to access the services of the right expert or neutral and can be used independently or in conjunction with other procedures such as ICC Arbitration.

Further launch events take place in London on January 21 and in New York on January 27.

Mr Aidarous said gathering some of the world's most renowned dispute resolution professionals, the events benefit anyone wanting to learn about ICC expert services, from corporate counsel and company managers, to arbitrators, mediators, dispute resolution specialists, lawyers and judges.

The January 14 launch in Dubai was supported by Baker and MacKenzie, Habib Al Mulla, Al Tamimi & Co in Dubai, Al Al Aidarous and KPMG.

www.iccwbo.org

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THE much anticipated  Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) will enter into force on January 15, 2015, opening up two rounds of tariff cuts for Australian exporters to benefit from in the first half of the year.

Australian beef – with exports to Japan last year worth $1.4 billion – is expected to be a major beneficiary with the 38.5 percent tariff to be halved over 15 years, with heavy front-end loading, including an eight percent cut in the first year. This will give Australian exporters a major advantage over the United States – the major competitor.

Australia and Japan exchanged notes in Canberra on December 16, confirming that both countries have completed their domestic processes and are ready to bring JAEPA into force.

“JAEPA will deliver substantial benefits for the Australian economy, and the deal means that our exporters will benefit from an immediate round of tariff cuts by Japan on January 15, followed by a further round of cuts on the April 1, 2015,” Federal Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb said.

“Like the back-to-back tariff cuts provided by the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement, this will deliver immediate benefits for exporters and significantly enhance their competitive position in the Japanese market.”

Mr Robb said more than 97 percent of Australia’s goods exports to Japan would receive preferential access, or enter duty-free, once the Agreement is fully implemented.

“JAEPA will expand opportunities with our second largest trading partner across a wide range of industries, including agriculture and processed foods, resources, manufacturing and services,” Mr Robb said.

 “This is the most ambitious Free Trade Agreement Japan has concluded with anyone, let alone a major agricultural economy. The Agreement will also support growth in investment from Japan – already our third largest investor – by raising the foreign investment screening threshold for private Japanese investment into Australia,” Mr Robb said.

JAEPA will be the second of three historic trade agreements concluded by the current Federal Government  to enter into force following Korea.

The recently concluded China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) forms the third in a powerful trifecta of agreements with the major economies of North Asia, Mr Robb said.

He said he hoped ChAFTA would enter into force in the second half of 2015 following completion of domestic legal and parliamentary processes in both countries.

“These three agreements will be transformative for the Australian economy, supporting economic growth, job creation, greater prosperity and higher living standards for Australians,” Mr Robb said.

JAEPA was signed in Canberra on July 8, 2014, during Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Australia.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/fta/jaepa/

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THE Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) has welcomed the official start of Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with South Korea (KAFTA) on December 12, saying it will further drive regional ties on many levels.

“This is a significant achievement for both countries,” acting chair of the AKF Board, Mike Manton said.

“Australia and Korea are major regional countries with strong, complementary economies, vibrant cultures and an enduring commitment to supporting peace and prosperity in our region,” Professor Manton said.

“The importance of our relationship increases every year and the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen ties between u.”

Korea is Australia’s third-largest export market with Australian exports of goods and services worth more than $22 billion in 2013-14.

On 12 December, tariffs were eliminated on 84 percent of Korea’s imports, by value, from Australia. There is another tariff cut on January 1, 2015.

On full implementation of KAFTA, 99.8 percent of Australian goods exports will enter Korea duty free,” Prof. Manton said.

The Australia-Korea Foundation has, since its establishment 22 years ago, encouraged deeper relations between Australia and Korea, including promoting greater understanding of Korea by Australians, and showcasing Australian excellence and innovation in Korea.

The Foundation’s annual grant round will open in February 2015.

A KAFTA overview, an outcomes summary, and a guide for exporting and importing goods, including relevant contact details, can be found at: http://dfat.gov.au/fta/kafta

www.dfat.gov.au/akf

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