Executive summary
The ongoing structural transformation towards a services economy, across all countries and at all levels of development, has immense potential to improve the well-being of Australians. Technology has reduced trade and transaction costs for both goods and services, thereby facilitating more complex and services-intensive production networks. Telecommunications, audio-visual and computer services constitute a digital network at the heart of the world trading system. Transportation, courier, logistics and distribution services form the backbone of global supply chains. Legal, accounting, insurance and banking services are essential enablers of trade and finance. Architectural, engineering, mining and constructions services are a fundamental foundation of physical infrastructure. Health, education and tourism services are at the heart of better lives.
Yet impediments to services trade remain pervasive, while trade and regulatory policy in these individual services sectors are often made with limited regard for economy-wide impacts. This report aims to provide a better understanding of Australia’s services performance in the global economy, to inform trade and regulatory policy makers of the likely effects of unilateral or concerted reforms and to help prioritise policy action. Taken together, the main findings seek to contribute to a national strategy by which Australia can fully capitalize on the strength of its services sectors and exporters to ensure that services trade works for all Australians.
Main findings
Services are Australia’s gateway to global markets
Australia’s regional and global services trade and productivity performance is strong. Services exports, and services embedded in other exports such as food products, machinery and electronics, account for half of Australia’s exported domestic value added. There is evidence, however, that Australian services suppliers face increasing competition. As such, a national services trade strategy can help sustain and strengthen Australia’s comparative advantages.
Australia’s services regulatory environment is a source of strength
Australians benefit from an open, efficient and generally pro-competitive regulatory environment that is favourable relative to many of its peers. Australia’s domestic regulatory regime is more liberal than average in 21 of the 22 services sectors measured by the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index. There is scope for improvement in all sectors, however, and a targeted regulatory reform agenda can ensure that Australia’s business environment remains a source of international competitiveness.
Global services sector growth is an opportunity for Australians
Technical progress, urbanisation and fast-growing markets are driving a rising share of services in consumption across the globe, and Australian exporters are well positioned to capitalize on these trends. Rapid change and dynamic demand factors, however, require adaptation and new approaches to maintain existing strongholds and gain ground in new and diversified markets, especially in strategic sectors such as education, travel and tourism services.
Ambitious services trade policy can transform bottlenecks into gateways
Services trade restrictions and regulatory heterogeneity impose costs on services and manufacturing sectors, with a disproportionate burden falling on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Enhanced commercial opportunities for Australian exporters can be secured by concerted efforts to encourage behind-the-border regulatory reforms in key markets (through fora such as the G20 and APEC), coupled with an ambitious trade negotiating agenda to secure new market access and bind applied regulatory regimes.
Strategic national reforms can boost Australia’s services trade competitiveness
Services generate more than two-thirds of global gross domestic product (GDP), attract over three-quarters of foreign direct investment (FDI) in advanced economies, employ the most workers, and create most new jobs globally. The OECD recommends that countries adopt a whole-of-government approach to co-ordinated services trade policy and regulatory reforms as a driver of inclusive economic growth and employment, and encourages Australia to seize this opportunity. Horizontal and sector-specific policy conclusions are presented in the final chapter of this report.