Scope
International trade in goods statistics are subject to confidentiality. Where necessary, a “restriction” is placed, at the commodity level, to suppress the level of detail available. Depending on the nature of the restriction, this may be all detail relating to the product (no commodity details), or a suppression of only some variables (e.g. selected country details). Users of the International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia and other international trade in goods statistics, should use the CCL to determine whether a particular statistic has been subject to confidentiality restrictions (and therefore may not represent the true aggregate value).
The columns in each table of the CCL describe:
- Statistical item (commodity) codes, which are either Harmonized Tariff Item Statistical Code (HTISC) for imports; or the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) for exports
- A date listed in ‘Deleted Date’ shows a superseded statistical item (i.e. the HTISC or AHECC is no longer in use)
- The time frame of the restriction is reflected by the ‘Date of Effect’ and ‘Date of Cessation’ with a blank ‘Date of Cessation’ indicating the restriction applies to the current reference month (e.g. is active)
- Product classifications are mapped using the Standard International Trade Classification (across both Revision 3 and Revision 4) and the likely industry of origin of the good (the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, ANZSIC 1993 and 2006).
- The specific restriction applied to preserve confidentiality
- The free standing descriptor of the statistical item (i.e. the HTISC or AHECC).
More detailed information on international merchandise trade confidentiality, and restriction types, can be found in the Appendix or the International Merchandise Trade, Australia: Concepts, Sources and Methods.