2025 National Trade Survey
ACITI was again pleased to partner with ACCI to deliver the Eighth National Trade Survey.
The Survey’s insights as to the concerns and challenges facing Australia’s trading businesses, as well as their strengths and hopes, is timely.
President Trump’s decision to apply new tariffs on imports from all countries, continued US withdrawal from the international institutions underpinning global markets and linking of trade and national security has unsettled trade partners and elevated uncertainty for trading businesses. New survey questions on US tariffs and trade policies reveal the impacts of these for Australian business. Goods exporters are seeing the impact in increased direct costs. But US trade policies are also impacting services businesses in terms of decision making. Faith in the value of the US Free Trade Agreement has understandably declined. But overall support for new trade agreements has increased. The Survey also provides some evidence that Australian exporters have embraced market diversification to help manage increased international market risk.
While Australian business is feeling the impact of trade disruption, priority concerns remain the fundamentals – labour and energy costs, taxes and cyber security.
On the positive side, being Australian remains the top attribute supporting the international competitiveness of Australian exporters. And Austrade’s digital services have taken off with a major uptick in respondents both being aware of the service and valuing it – with credit likely to go to President Trump!
The National Trade Survey continues to provide valuable indicators of the needs of Australia’s trading businesses and opportunities for strengthening our trade performance.
