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Consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Australia is assisting developing countries to benefit from integration into the multilateral trading system through aid for trade.

Australia is also a world-class provider of professional services, financial services, energy and mining-related services, environmental services and financial technology (FinTech).

Australia’s FTAs have secured significant new market access and rules in evolving areas of trade like e-commerce, intellectual property, trade and environment, SOEs, and investment liberalization over the review period.

During the review period, the COAG initiated, developed, and monitored the implementation of policy reforms of national significance, and concluded ... an Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity to support a collective government approach to biosecurity, covering areas such as trade, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, the environment, social amenities, and human health.[5]

[5] COAG, Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. Viewed at: https://www.coag.gov.au/sites/default/files/agreements/iga-biosecurity_0.pdf.

Other agencies that are involved in international trade policy and trade relations include the Departments of Home Affairs; Agriculture and Water Resources; Industry, Innovation and Science; Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; the Environment and Energy; Communications and the Arts; Health; and the Treasury.

The trade policy formulation and evaluation structure continues to be very transparent, and involves interactions between the executive branches of government, advisory bodies, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. The Productivity Commission (PC) remains the Government's independent research and advisory body on a range of economic, social and environmental issues. Its advice to the Government, together with the information and analysis on which it is based, are open to public scrutiny.

Australia is involved in the negotiations to reach an Environmental Goods Agreement[20]

[20] DFAT, Trade and the environment. Viewed at: https://dfat.gov.au/trade/organisations/wto/negotiations/ega/Pages/trade-and-the-environment.aspx#environmental-goods.

Regarding foreign investment in agricultural land and businesses, the Government assesses applications according to the following criteria : quality and availability of Australia's agricultural resources (including water) ... biodiversity, ...

The transaction value method is used in nearly all cases. Instances where other methods are used typically involve situations where no previous sale occurred or the good is of a unique nature (e.g. endangered species or rare antique car).

The EBPS, administered by the AusIndustry Division of the Department of Industry and Science, provides for duty-free imports of eligible goods to be used in major projects in mining, resource processing, agriculture, food processing, food packaging, manufacturing, and industries supplying gas, water and energy.