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CHANGES IN THIS AND FORTHCOMING ISSUES


CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

Revisions to merchandise trade data outside the normal revision period

The Customs Tariff codes 9988888899 (Combined confidential items) imports statistics have been revised on a merchandise trade basis in the months of April 2010, June 2010, December 2010, September 2011 and May 2012. These months are outside the normal revision period for merchandise trade data. The changes will impact on statistics in time series spreadsheets tables 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 in this publication, detailed import statistics at the 5-digit Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), Balance of Payments Broad Economic Categories (detailed level) and Harmonised Tariff Item Statistical Classification (HTISC) levels available via the ABS tailored 'user pays' service.

These revisions will be included in Balance of Payments estimates of Goods Debits, and National Accounts estimates of Imports of goods and services, as revision periods for those estimates allow. Other transactions associated with the imports causing these revisions, such as financing of these purchases, have already been included in the relevant macroeconomic statistics published by the ABS.


CHANGES IN FORTHCOMING ISSUES

Amendment to schedule 4 of customs tariff

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service introduced significant amendments to Schedule 4 of the Customs Tariff Act which were implemented on 1 March 2013. More detail is available in Australian Customs Notice 2012/55.

These changes to treatment code and commodity classifications will be applied from March 2013 imports statistics and will impact on statistics available via the ABS tailored 'user pays' service. These changes will not impact on statistics in this publication.

The Information Paper: Amendments to Schedule 4 of Customs Tariff (cat. no. 5368.0.55.019) which provides information on new treatment codes, commodity codes and a correspondence between the ceasing codes and the replacement codes was released on the ABS website on 19 March 2013. The paper also includes information on several changes to Schedule 4 not announced in Australian Customs Notice 2012/55.


Changes to country name presented on a country basis

From the March 2013 issue, there will be name changes to the ABS trade country classification which will impact on time series spreadsheets. Details of the changes are as follows: