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TYPES OF CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS
9.8 The ABS recognises that detailed commodity statistics for exported and imported goods play an important role in the analysis of Australia's trade with the rest of the world. However, this need for detailed information has to be balanced with an individual's or organisation's entitlement to data confidentiality. Where a confidentiality restriction is required, the ABS negotiates with the individual or organisation concerned to determine a form of restriction which satisfies their legal entitlement, while maximising the utility of statistical information.
9.9 A variety of restrictions are available to protect the confidentiality of an individual's or organisation's data. Each type of restriction is designed to protect a particular aspect of the data. Restrictions are placed at the commodity level, and the information is restricted for all trade in that commodity, not just that relating to the particular individual or organisation which requested the restriction.
CURRENT CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS
9.10 The various confidentiality restrictions, and their impact on international merchandise trade statistics, are set out in Table 9.1 below.
TABLE 9.1: ABS CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS AND THEIR EFFECT ON INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS
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| Type of restriction |  | How the restriction affects statistics |
|
| No commodity details | | Under the most comprehensive restriction able to be applied no data relating to a particular commodity are released. Instead, in statistics classified by commodity, the data are included in a commodity code together with data for all other commodities that are similarly restricted. The confidential commodity codes used for the presentation of the most detailed data are shown in Table 9.2 below. From September 2008 for imports and June 2013 for exports, at the total level, this data is not split back to individual country, state or ports and is shown as 'Country not available for publication'. This is similar to states and ports. |
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| Broad commodity details | | Like the 'No commodity details' restriction, the 'Broad commodity details' restriction also prevents the release of commodity detail, but allows data to be released at the broad commodity level, without that level being impacted by the restriction. Under this restriction, data for a group of confidential commodities in the same area of the classification are combined and presented in a single item within the relevant area (chapter) of the classification. This restriction is only used in two cases: exports of metalliferous ores (HS Chapter 26), from July 1990 onwards and imports of organic chemicals (HS Chapter 29), from July 1991 onwards. This means that the aggregated data for exports in HS Chapter 26 and imports in HS Chapter 29 provide the correct value. |
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| No country details | | Under this restriction, no details of the country of origin (for imports) or the country of final destination (for exports) are made available for a particular commodity. Information relating to overseas ports is also suppressed. |
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| Selected country details | | Under this restriction selected countries have the country of origin (for imports) or the country of final destination (for exports) suppressed. Instead of combining the details with data for all other countries having a similar restriction (as the 'No country details' restriction does) this restriction suppresses details for a group of countries, but presents full details for other countries. Where information relating to a country is suppressed, information relating to ports in that country is also suppressed. |
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| No state details | | Under this restriction, import and export commodity statistics classified by Australian state are not made available. Information relating to Australian ports is also not available. |
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| Selected state details | | This restriction suppresses commodity details that are confidential for one or more Australian states by combining details for a state with details for one or more other states. Information relating to Australian ports for the selected states are also suppressed. Details for the remaining states are made available. |
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| No Quantity Details | | Under this restriction the value of trade in the commodity is available, however quantity and gross weight are suppressed. |
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| No Value Details | | For commodities subject to this restriction the quantity and gross weight of the commodity are available, however the value is suppressed. From September 2008 for imports and June 2013 for exports, at the total level, value details are not split back to individual country's state or port and are shown as 'Country not available for publication'. This is similar with state and port details. |
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| No Value for Country Details | | This restriction suppresses value details by country for the particular commodity to which it applies. Quantity details by country are available, however value is allocated to the category 'No country details'. |
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| No Duty Details | | This restriction is only relevant to import clearances and can only be used in conjunction with a country restriction. The 'No duty details' restriction results in the suppression of all duty details (rate of duty, nature of tariff, treatment code, preference code and duty paid) for statistics where country has been suppressed. Whenever a restriction is placed on a country ('No country details', 'Selected country details'), a 'No duty details' restriction is automatically applied. |
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Note: Restrictions other than 'No commodity details' and 'Broad commodity details' can be combined. See Table 9.4 below for the most commonly used combined restrictions and their impact on statistical outputs.
TABLE 9.2: NO COMMODITY DETAILS CONFIDENTIAL COMMODITY CODES(a)
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| Classification | | Code | | Description |
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| AHECC | | 99999999 | | Combined confidential items: from July 1990 onwards, excluding HS Chapter 26 codes confidentialised with 'Broad commodity details' restrictions. |
| Customs Tariff | | 9988888899 | | Combined confidential items: from July 1991 onwards, excluding HS Chapter 29 codes confidentialised with 'Broad commodity details' restrictions and HS Chapter 28 codes confidentialised with 'Broad commodity details' restrictions, noting that these ceased after December 1994. |
| SITC Rev. 4 | | 98888 | | Combined confidential items excluding some of SITC 28099 (exports only) and some of SITC 51099 (imports only). |
| ANZSIC 2006 | | 9899 | | Sum of confidential items not more specifically classified. |
| BEC | | 700 | | Goods not elsewhere specified (including confidential items). |
| BOPBEC | | ON02 | | Other goods nes. |
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(a) The confidential commodity codes listed in this table are those which are shown in tables containing the most detailed data possible for the classification. That is, a table of exports data showing 8 digit AHECC information would include an aggregate of all commodities affected by the 'No commodity details' restriction under the commodity code 99999999. A table showing 4 digit AHECC information would include an aggregate of all commodities affected by the 'No commodity details' restriction under the commodity code 9999.
IMPACT OF CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS
9.11 Table 9.3 compares the impact of the different types of restriction on statistical output classified by country and state. The first column shows the data as it would appear in output (both quantity and value) if there were no confidentiality restrictions and each of the other nine columns shows the impact a different type of confidentiality restriction would have on output of the same data.
TABLE 9.3: IMPACT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS
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| Type of Restriction | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| No restrictions
| No commodity details
| Broad commodity details
| No country details
| Selected country details (Malaysia, Taiwan)
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| Example: Commodity at the most detailed level | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 |
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| Total this item | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | – | – | – | –(a) | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Victoria | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Queensland | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Western Australia | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| No State Details | na | na | – | – | – | – | na | na | na | na |
| Malaysia | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total States | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Victoria | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Queensland | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | na | na | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Singapore | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y |
| Victoria | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y |
| Queensland | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y |
| Western Australia | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y |
| No State Details | na | na | – | – | – | – | – | – | na | na |
| Taiwan | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Victoria | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Queensland | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | Y | Y | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | na | na | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No country details | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | na | na | – | – | – | –(a) | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Victoria | na | na | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Queensland | na | na | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Western Australia | na | na | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| No State Details | na | na | – | – | – | – | na | na | na | na |
|
– Data not published, confidentiality restriction has been applied
Y Data published, confidentiality restriction not applicable
na Data is not applicable in these categories as it is included in other categories (e.g. there is no data published in 'No state details' category if data is published in the individual state category)
(a) For the example of a commodity at the most detailed level, the same data are released under the 'Broad commodity details' and 'No commodity details' restrictions (i.e. no data published). However, in a table showing all 2 digit commodities, the 'Broad commodity details' combined item would show a value in the 'Total of this item' and 'No country details', but no values would be published for commodities affected by a 'No commodity details' restriction. For a description of the different confidentiality restrictions see Table 9.1. |
TABLE 9.3: IMPACT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS – continued
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| Type of Restriction | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| No state details
| Selected state details (QLD, WA)
| No quantity details
| No value details
| No value details by country
|
| Example: Commodity at the most detailed level | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 |
|
| Total this item | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | na | na | – | na | na |
| Malaysia | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total States | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | na | na | – | na | – |
| Singapore | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | na | na | – | na | – |
| Taiwan | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | – | na | na | – | na | – |
| No country details | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | na | na | na | na | – | na | na | – | na | Y |
| Victoria | na | na | na | na | – | na | na | – | na | Y |
| Queensland | na | na | na | na | – | na | na | – | na | Y |
| Western Australia | na | na | na | na | – | na | na | – | na | Y |
| No State Details | na | na | na | na | – | na | na | – | na | na |
|
– Data not published, confidentiality restriction has been applied
Y Data published, confidentiality restriction not applicable
na Data is not applicable in these categories as it is included in other categories (e.g. there is no data published in 'No state details' category if data is published in the individual state category)
(a) For the example of a commodity at the most detailed level, the same data are released under the 'Broad commodity details' and 'No commodity details' restrictions (i.e. no data published). However, in a table showing all 2 digit commodities, the 'Broad commodity details' combined item would show a value in the 'Total of this item' and 'No country details', but no values would be published for commodities affected by a 'No commodity details' restriction. For a description of the different confidentiality restrictions see Table 9.1. |
9.12 Restrictions other than 'No commodity details' and 'Broad commodity details' can be combined. Table 9.4 compares the impact of the different types of combined restrictions on statistical output for a commodity classified by country and state. The combined restrictions identified in Table 9.4 are the most commonly used.
TABLE 9.4: IMPACT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMBINED CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS
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| Type of Restriction | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No country, No state
| No country, Selected states (QLD, WA)
| Selected countries (Malaysia, Taiwan), No state
| Selected countries (Malaysia, Taiwan), Selected states (QLD, WA)
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| Example: Commodity at the most detailed level | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 | Quantity (kg) | $'000 |
|
| Total this item | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | – | Y | Y |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Malaysia | | | | | | | | |
| Total States | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Victoria | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Singapore | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Victoria | – | – | – | – | – | – | Y | Y |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | – | – | – | – | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Taiwan | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Victoria | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No country details | | | | | | | | |
| Total states | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Victoria | – | – | Y | Y | – | – | Y | Y |
| Queensland | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Western Australia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| No State Details | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
|
– Data not published, confidentiality restriction has been applied
Y Data published, confidentiality restriction not applicable |
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