Recent News
Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement
On Tuesday 24 March 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr Maroš Šefčovič announced the conclusion of negotiations for the Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement.
The rights and interests of First Nations people are reflected throughout the agreement, including in the chapters on government procurement, intellectual property, services and investment, energy and resources, trade and sustainable development, and sustainable agriculture and food systems. More information is available at Benefits for First Nations people and businesses.
Launch of the Trade Diversification Network
On Wednesday 4 March, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism launched the Trade Diversification Network, a network of 40 national peak industry bodies representing Australian exporters.
The network leverages the capabilities of national peak industry bodies to assist in delivering the Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI), a $50 million program helping Australian businesses to diversify into new export markets, and building on existing opportunities in established markets.
For more information, go to the Austrade website: Trade Diversification Network members announced.
Reminder: First Nations Trade and Investment CEO and Director Network
DFAT is still seeking expressions of interest from First Nations business leaders interested in joining the First Nations Trade and Investment CEO and Director Network, which is soon to be established.
The Network is a key outcome under pillar two of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement First Nations Action Plan, which was launched in November 2025.
The Network will build and strengthen cultural and business relationships between First Nations business leaders and international stakeholders, including business leaders in the Asia and the Middle East.
The Network will:
- Promote First Nations trade and investment interests internationally
- Help inform domestic understanding of international trade and investment opportunities.
Members of the Network will have opportunities to attend trade and investment related events in Australia, particularly related to key regions including the Asia and the Middle East, and receive information about major events overseas that might be of interest.
If you are a CEO or Director and would like to join, please fill in the following form to express your interest: First Nations Trade and Investment CEO and Director Network - Expression of Interest.
Recent and upcoming webinars
Go Global Export Academy webinars
You need a Go Global Toolkit account to access webinar recordings.
Recent webinars
Navigating US tariff changes
26 February 2026
Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) hosted a webinar on recent US tariff developments and how the Australian Government is supporting Australian exporters.
For current guidance, see US tariff changes – support for Australian businesses .
Navigating developments in the Middle East
12 March 2026
Austrade and DFAT hosted a webinar to help exporters understand recent developments in the Middle East and their potential impacts on Australian businesses.
Upcoming webinars
Middle East update – economic outlook and export strategies
26 March 2026
The session will include a regional trade credit risk management update from National Trade Credit Insurance, insights from international trade experts, and practical export strategies.
Middle East update: global freight and logistics
31 March 2026
Join Austrade and international trade and logistics experts for an overview of current impacts on global freight and logistics networks .
The webinar will cover what exporters can expect and how they can respond in practical terms.
Austrade is working closely with its partners to support Australian businesses navigating recent developments in the Middle East. For current updates and available resources, see Middle East updates and support.
Decarbonising commercial assets in Singapore
21 April 2026
This second session in Austrade’s Decarbonising Singapore’s built environment webinar series will focus on commercial assets.
The webinar is suited to exporters exploring opportunities in Singapore’s built environment sector or seeking a better understanding of decarbonisation priorities. It will provide a practical industry perspective on the decarbonisation journey, current gaps and emerging opportunities.
Upcoming Events, Programs and Grant Opportunities
Australian First Nations Capability Booklets
Austrade is inviting business to express interest to be part of the upcoming Australian First Nations Capability Booklet project.
Booklets will be created for various specific markets as the opportunity arises, showcasing the depth and diversity of Indigenous Business expertise to partners and stakeholders in different regions across the world.
Austrade is seeking businesses from the following sectors:
- Agrifood
- Green Economy
- Critical Enabling Technologies
- Services.
Participation offers the chance to raise your business profile, connect with potential partners, and position your company as a trusted collaborator/supplier, at no cost.
To express your interest to feature in the booklet, simply complete this registration form, providing a 200-word overview of your business, contact details, a high-resolution version your company logo (high-res), a professional headshot, and 3-4 high-resolution photos of your company's operations.
Please complete the form by 11:30pm (AEST) on Wednesday 8 April 2026.
Australia-Korea Foundation Grant Round Open
Do you have a project that can promote partnerships and people-to-people links between Australia and South Korea? If so, you may be eligible to apply for funding in the 2026-27 Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) Grant Round!
Grants of between $50,000 and $150,000 are available to support projects in the following priority areas
- Activities that promote cooperation on bilateral, economic security and broader geostrategic issues
- Activities that expand Korean literacy in Australia and/or an understanding of Australia in Korea
- Arts, culture, sport, and youth engagement
- Activities that advance cooperation in key emerging sectors, including energy transition, critical minerals, resilient supply chains, agriculture, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and advanced technologies.
The AKF prioritises high-quality projects that promote diversity and inclusion - for example, through First Nations and gender-balanced representation, inclusive participation in the development and delivery of the activity, and representation of communities across Australia.
Please refer to the grant guidelines, FAQs and previously supported projects on our website.
Applications close at 3:00pm AEST (2.00pm KST) on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
Call for Submissions: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
DFAT is now inviting submissions from interested individuals and groups on:
- the recommendations to upgrade the CPTPP, which will assist the Government in forming Australia's negotiating positions for the Upgrade Negotiations
- on the commercial, economic, regional and other impacts of Uruguay's potential accession to the CPTPP, which will assist the Government in considering Australia's accession negotiations with Uruguay.
Submissions for both of these can be lodged through: CPTPP@dfat.gov.au. All submissions will be available on the DFAT website unless the author specifies otherwise.
The closing date for submissions is Sunday, 31 May 2026.
First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants
Applications are now open for Round 1 of the First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants.
These small-scale grants, ranging from $5,000 to $80,000, are part of the Australian Government's $74.6 million package to implement the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy 2024–30. The grants are designed to assist in receiving expert advice on how to be involved in the clean energy transformation, which can provide better access to power, jobs, training, economic development, business opportunities and more.
A webinar providing an overview of the grant round will be provided on Wednesday, 31 March 2026 from 1:30pm AEDT to provide an overview of the application process and eligibility criteria. Please register to attend via Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Please refer to the grant guidelines and apply via Funding for First Nations communities to engage with clean energy development webpage..
Applications close at 5:00pm AEST on Thursday, 3 September 2026.