In the past decade, Australia and the European Union (EU) have been active partners in promoting a multilateral, rules-based framework for trade. Both believe that creating a level playing field in this way is the key to enhancing nations’ opportunities to increase markets for their products, particularly for their small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). The current Free Trade negotiations between the EU and Australia are an opportunity for both parties to achieve a comprehensive agreement that sets a new benchmark for economic cooperation between key trading partners, reducing all kinds of barriers to trade.
There is concern, however, that SMEs may not take advantage of these new arrangements. Only four percent of Australian companies export at all, and most of these are larger companies. SMEs in particular struggle to export because of their limited resources. A further challenge for SMEs is that Global Value Chains (GVCs) are constantly evolving so that even if SMEs see opportunities to benefit from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), they are unclear about how best to position their products in global markets
This means that even though European integration has led to much greater opportunities for SMEs through trade, they are not realising all their potential benefits. This project will promote an innovative approach to recognising how SMEs can use FTAs to engage with GVCs; it will develop strategies for sharing these insights with SMEs and civil society; and it will develop specific learning resources for use in universities and other adult learning environments.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
