Federal Budget 2026-27: What Importers and Exporters Need to Know

The Federal Government’s 2026-27 Budget placed a strong focus on “resilience and reform”, with several announcements likely to impact Australian importers, exporters and international supply chains.

From tariff reform and customs simplification through to freight resilience, biosecurity and fuel security, many of the measures are aimed at making trade more efficient while maintaining strong border controls.

Here are the key takeaways for businesses involved in importing and exporting.

Easier Trade Processes Through Australian Trusted Trader Expansion

One of the biggest announcements for exporters was additional investment into the Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) program.

The Government will provide $7.6 million over four years from 2026-27 to expand ATT, including the rollout of a new Approved Exporter Scheme.

For accredited exporters, this could significantly reduce paperwork when claiming Free Trade Agreement benefits. Under the proposed scheme, eligible ATT exporters may no longer need to obtain Certificates of Origin for certain agreements, including:

• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)

• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

For exporters regularly shipping into Asia-Pacific markets, this has the potential to reduce administrative costs, speed up documentation processes and simplify customs clearance requirements.

The Budget also reinforced the Government’s ongoing commitment to reducing unnecessary tariffs and simplifying customs processes.

More “Nuisance Tariffs” Being Removed

Importers are also likely to welcome the removal of a further 497 “nuisance tariffs” from 1 July 2026.

These are generally low-value tariffs that create administrative work without generating significant revenue. Treasury estimates the changes will streamline around $23 billion worth of trade and reduce compliance costs by approximately $157 million annually.

For importers, fewer tariffs can mean:

• simpler customs declarations

• reduced brokerage and administration costs

• less complexity when classifying goods

• faster border processing

The Government has also opened consultation on an additional 86 tariffs proposed for abolition from 1 July 2027.

Businesses currently using tariff concession orders or preferential origin arrangements should review the proposed changes carefully, particularly where existing commercial structures or customs processes may be affected.

Biosecurity Remains a Major Focus

The Budget included additional staffing for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), including more biosecurity officers at airports and seaports.

For importers, this is an important reminder that biosecurity compliance remains a priority at the Australian border.

While the Government is aiming to streamline some border processes — particularly around fertiliser imports — increased investment into biosecurity also signals continued scrutiny of cargo arriving into Australia.

Importers should continue to ensure:

• cargo is clean and correctly declared

• treatment requirements are met

• supplier documentation is accurate

• packing declarations and import permits are compliant where required

Delays caused by biosecurity issues can still have major impacts on supply chains, particularly during periods of port congestion or vessel disruption.

Freight and Supply Chain Resilience

The Government also announced several freight and transport measures designed to strengthen national supply chains.

This includes:

• $55 million for a Transport Resilience and Capacity Kickstart program to encourage more freight movement by rail and coastal shipping

• continued investment into interstate rail connectivity

• heavy vehicle reforms aimed at improving freight productivity

For importers and exporters, improved freight infrastructure and greater supply chain resilience are increasingly important as businesses continue managing:

• rising transport costs

• global shipping disruptions

• port congestion

• equipment shortages

• geopolitical uncertainty

• The Budget also included:

• $10.3 billion for transport projects

• $8.6 billion over 11 years for major road and rail infrastructure

While many of these projects are long-term investments, they signal ongoing government focus on improving freight efficiency across Australia.

Fuel Security and Supply Chain Stability

Fuel supply remains a major concern for the logistics sector, particularly following recent global disruptions.

The Budget announced a $3.2 billion Australian Fuel Security Reserve measure aimed at increasing Australia’s long-term fuel storage capacity.

Combined with higher minimum stockholding obligations, the initiative is expected to increase diesel and jet fuel reserves by approximately 50 days.

For importers and exporters, fuel security plays a direct role in:

• freight pricing

• transport reliability

• supply chain continuity

• trucking and shipping costs

Any improvement in fuel stability helps reduce the risk of sudden supply chain disruptions during international crises.

Duty-Free Treatment for Ukrainian Goods Extended

The Government also confirmed that duty-free access for Ukrainian-origin goods will continue until 3 July 2028.

The measure maintains a “Free” customs duty rate on eligible Ukrainian goods, excluding excise-equivalent products such as alcohol, tobacco and fuel.

What Businesses Should Watch Next

While several measures announced in the Budget are designed to simplify trade and strengthen supply chains, importers and exporters should continue monitoring:

• tariff reform consultations

• customs process changes

• ATT program developments

• biosecurity requirements

• freight infrastructure updates

As always, changes at the border can create both opportunities and compliance risks, particularly for businesses trading across multiple markets and Free Trade Agreements.

Source: Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) preliminary Budget observations.