This guidance is an explanation of UK-Australia FTA Chapter 8: Cross Border Trade in Services
Cross border trade in services
The UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) locks in access to the Australian market for UK businesses and guarantees an equal footing for British companies competing with their Australian counterparts. As a result:
- UK businesses will not be required to have a local presence in the form of a representative office or residency in Australia to provide a service
- Australia will not place limitations on the number of service suppliers, the value of the service provided, or the number of employees required to deliver that service, for British businesses
- Australia must provide transparent and reliable processes for acquiring the licences or qualifications necessary to perform economic activities
Note there are non-conforming measures that define what sectors are not covered by the benefits of this chapter. These outline the measures at the federal and sub-federal levels, and also includes sector specific reservations at the federal and sub-federal levels.
Professional services and recognition of professional qualifications
Professional services are a major UK export and play an essential role in facilitating broader trade and investment. To support this important sector, the Free Trade Agreement commits the UK and Australia to encourage their regulators to establish and maintain routes to recognition for each other’s professional qualifications.
The FTA also supports regulators to agree mutual recognition arrangements to streamline and remove costly and burdensome requalification requirements.
The Professional Services Working Group will help to monitor and drive results on the recognition of professional qualifications by facilitating engagement between UK and Australian governments and the relevant regulatory bodies.