Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Australia and the United Arab Emirates have developed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will enter into force on 01 October 2025.
The Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on 06 November 2024 by the Hon Don Farrell MP, the Minister for Trade and Tourism, and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Minister for Foreign Trade, His Excellency Dr.Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
The implementing legislation received the Royal Assent on 02 August 2025 and will enter into force on 01 October 2025.
Further information from the Australian Border Force on the AU-UAE CEPA is available here
Benefits for Australian Industry
The AU-UAE CEPA has been designed to support Australian industry by expanding trade and investment opportunities across the following key areas:
- Trade in goods
- Trade in services
- Skilled Labour Mobility
- Investment
- First Nations Trade and Cooperation
- Trade and Labour
- Environment and the Transition to Net Zero
- Trade, Gender Balance and Women’s Economic Empowerment
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Animal Welfare
- Digital Trade
- Government procurement
- Intellectual Property
- Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
- Competition and Consumer Protections
- Transparency and Anti-Corruption
- Economic Cooperation
Further information on AU-UAE CEPA benefits for Australian industry is available here
Benefits for Australian Exporters
Australian exporters of certain goods will receive preferential tariffs under the AU-UAE CEPA, subject to product specific rules of origins, with most tariffs removed immediately upon implementation and others eliminated over three or five stages.
Benefits for Australian Importers
Australian importers of certain goods will receive preferential tariffs under AU-UAE CEPA, subject to product specific rules of origins, and in many instances would be duty free.
Certificate of Origin
There are requirements under the rules of origin to qualify for the Australia-UAE CEPA.
An AU-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin must be issued by an issuing body or authority of the exporting Party. A written application for this document must be submitted by an exporter, producer or their representative. It needs to meet the requirements of Article 3.22 of the agreement.
A Certificate of Origin must contain the data elements listed in Annex 3B: Minimum Information Requirements for Certificates of Origin.
A comprehensive list of the AU-UAE CEPA Rules of Origin is available here
Origin Declaration made by an Approved Exporter
A Certificate of Origin may not be required to claim preferential tariff under Australia-UAE CEPA, when an importer holds an Origin Declaration made by an Approved Exporter from the UAE; however, the rules of origin must still be met.
An AU-UAE CEPA Origin Declaration must comply with the requirements of Article 3.24 of the agreement and contain the data elements listed in Annex 3C: Minimum Information Requirements for Origin Declarations.
Origin waiver benefit for Australian Trusted Traders
Importers registered as Australian Trusted Traders are exempt from providing a Certificate of Origin when claiming preferential tariff under Australia-UAE CEPA; however, the rules of origin must still be met.
The exemption applies only to goods imported after either the importer became an Australian Trusted Trader or AU-UAE CEPA came into effect, whichever is latter
Further information on origin waver benefit is available here
Claiming a Duty Refund
The AU-UAE CEPA will apply to import shipments with a valid AU-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin and where the customs entry is lodged after 01 October 2025.
Claiming a duty refund under the AU-UAE CEPA is possible in instances where an importer has paid customs duty because a valid certificate of origin was not available at the time of entry. The importer would need a valid Certificate of Origin to claim a refund under section 23 of the Customs (International Obligations) Regulation 2015.
Further information on claiming a refund under the AU-UAE CEPA is available here
Note – a customs entry lodged before 01 October 2025 cannot be amended to apply for a duty refund, even if a valid AU-UAE CEPA Certificate of Origin is presented.