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Australia has participated actively in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations with submissions related to trade and environment and fisheries subsidies, among other things

Legislation was before the Parliament in November 2010 making it an offence to import any products of illegally harvested timber, as well as a code of conduct requiring suppliers who first place timber into the Australian market to carry out proper tests to ensure wood entering the country is legal, which will be supported by the use of a trade description to give consumers confidence that they are purchasing legal wood

Australia's bilateral RTA with Malaysia (MAFTA) entered into force on January 2013. (…) The Agreement contains provisions on competition policy and intellectual property rights as well as side-letters on environmental issues and labour provisions.

Australia continues to implement a range of initiatives and measures to improve fisheries management and ensure the sustainability of fish stocks for the long-term viability of the industry. (…) Australia reviewed, inter alia, its 2007 Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines (completed in 2013), and released the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch in May 2013, and the second National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (Shark-plan 2), in July 2012. Key priorities for 2013-14 included simplifying the regulatory environment, and managing ecological and compliance risks. The Fisheries Legislation Amendment Act 2013 strengthened provisions making corporations and other persons responsible for any unlawful conduct engaged in by their employees, agents or directors in particular circumstances. Industry became a partner in managing Commonwealth fisheries with amendments to fisheries-management legislation in 2010/11 enabling the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to enter into co management arrangements, giving powers and functions to primary stakeholders in individual fisheries

During the review period, Australia continued its strong action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Its National Fisheries Compliance Strategy 2010-15 outlines the objectives that fisheries agencies will pursue to promote voluntary compliance and create effective deterrence to illegal fishing activities. Australia is also working with its northern neighbours to reduce IUU fishing and improve fisheries management and governance. Between 2005/06 and 2013/14, the number of illegal fishing vessels apprehended declined by 93%.

(…) Domestic producers of ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel used in transport also continued to receive a government subsidy, which for ethanol and biodiesel is to be gradually repealed (section 4.3.2.3).

Australia's latest notification to the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (September 2013) listed 30 federal programmes in support of environmental protection, forestry, innovation, PMV, TCF, steel, and workforce training activities, as well as 38 programmes at state and territory level (Table A3.2). (...) [161]

[161] In addition to WTO-notified subsidies, the Department of Industry has some other programmes (...) The following programmes were or about to expire/close: (...) Re-tooling for Climate Change (in November 2010); the Green Building Fund (GBF) (in March 2011); (...) the Renewable Energy Equity Fund (REEF) (date unknown). (...)

(…) Companies receiving over $A 20 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (section 4.3.2) may be required to prepare and report on an AIP (Australian Industry Participation) plan as a condition of investment. (…)

The Navigation Act 2012 entered into force on 1 July 2013, replacing previous legislation dating back to 1912. It provides the framework by which the Government may regulate ship and seafarer safety, the shipping aspects of environmental protection and seafarer actions in Australian waters. It gives effect to the maritime conventions to which Australia is a signatory. The Navigation Act together with the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (see above) allow the AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) to be the sole regulator of maritime safety (for both domestic and international shipping), consolidating the work of the eight previously existing maritime safety regulators and implementing the above mentioned COAG (Council of Australian Governments) intergovernmental agreement on Commercial Vessel Safety Reform.

In 2010, 70% (over 60% 2004) of motor vehicle safety, anti-theft and emission standards were aligned with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 1958 Agreement on technical standards for automotives and parts regulations