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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.

Support under the notified non-agricultural schemes are mainly delivered by means of grants. Other forms of non-agricultural subsidies include funding agreements; concessional loans; tax waivers; duty concessions; payroll tax rebates; rental assistance; and vouchers. Support was provided to environmental protection; (...)

The OECD notes that resource constraints, particularly access to water, remain the greatest challenge to Australia's agricultural sector. Recent water reforms have been a step in the right direction, as pricing mechanisms are being employed to reflect the scarcity of water to producers. The OECD welcomes the more unified approach towards drought management embodied in the NDA as a tool to end sometimes-contradictory incentives provided until recently. However, it is also noted that, while it is widely accepted that Australian agriculture is affected by a changing climate, its contribution to emissions that drive climate change is relatively overlooked in terms of policy response.

Resource constraints, in particular access to water, remain a major challenge. Among many assistance measures taken recently in response to severe drought conditions, the Future Drought Fund (an initial credit of AUD 3.9 billion) is intended to provide a secure and continuous revenue stream for drought-related measures. The Government signed a new agreement with state and territory governments in December 2018 to form a joint approach on drought preparedness, response and recovery (...)

Table 3.9 Anti-dumping duties terminated, 2015-April 2019
Tariff line(s): 2710.11.80; 2710.19.80; 3824.90.20; 3824.90.30; 2710.91.80; 2710.99.80
Product description: Biodiesel
Country of export: United States
Date terminated: 19.04.2016

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.

When importing into Australia, importers of plant, animal, mineral and biological products (...) may use the Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system to determine whether: a commodity is permitted to be imported; importation is subject to specific conditions; supporting documentation is required; the commodity must undergo treatment; or an import permit is needed. (...) Australia's biosecurity system is based on the Biosecurity Act, 2015, and information on biosecurity conditions may also be obtained through BICON.

The Government regulates national issues that also affect the aquaculture sector, such as disease control, quality aspects, labelling, and trade. (...) a licensing system is in place to mitigate these concerns and the sector's impact on the environment.

Australia is also actively participating in the WTO Fisheries Subsidies negotiations (...) in recognition of the potential contribution that subsidy reform could make to improve the sustainability of marine capture fisheries across the globe.

Table 3.11 Exports subject to licensing or other restrictions, 2019
Item: Toothfish
Justification: Protected under international instrument through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, to protect against illegal poaching
Measure: Prohibited unless permission has been granted by an authorized officer from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.