The Australian Centre for International Trade and Investment (ACITI) is pleased to again partner with ACCI in delivering the seventh National Trade Survey.

The survey this year included new questions on international competitiveness, future markets,  digital trade, and trade finance.

On the question of international competitiveness and what respondents considered to be their key strength, being Australian was rated as the stand out competitiveness attribute.

There were no surprises on what undermines international competitiveness with labour costs, taxes and red tape topping the list.

Other highlights in this year’s survey include the UK’s rise up the rankings as the equal second market most respondents trade with, and India topping the list as the market respondents were looking to for future trade opportunities and diversification.

We also saw an interesting uplift in awareness of Australia’s free trade agreements and positive shift in business views of the usefulness of FTAs. In light of US-China geostrategic competition, the economic impacts of emissions reduction measures, and the rapid evolution of AI, FTAs may just be small islands of certainty for businesses trying to navigate turbulent international waters.

Click HERE to access the full report.