Treasury has launched a consultation from 28 August-10 December, 2025, to abolish 500 “nuisance tariffs”, with the intention of reducing costs for businesses.
The Australian Treasury has initiated a public consultation on proposals to abolish around 500 tariff lines considered to be “nuisance tariffs” on 28 August 2025.
These duties, set at 4% or 5%, apply to goods that already enter under concessional or preferential arrangements, creating administrative costs for importers while providing limited protection to local industries.
The affected items include a wide range of consumer and industrial products such as food items, chemicals, textiles, apparel, footwear, household appliances, vehicles and vessels.
Examples of products that could be cheaper as a result of the abolition of tariffs proposed by the government include:
- Tyres with annual imports worth nearly AUD 4 billion, raise less than AUD 80,000 in revenue per year. Abolition will save business over AUD 32 million in compliance costs each year.
- Televisions with annual imports worth over AUD 1.4 billion, raise less than AUD 43,000 in revenue per year. Abolition will save business over AUD 13 million in compliance costs each year.
- Wine glasses with annual imports worth over AUD 42 million, raise less than AUD 28,000 in revenue per year. Abolition will save business over AUD 375,000 in compliance costs each year.
- Air conditioners with annual imports worth over AUD 58 million, raise less than AUD 100,000 in revenue per year. Abolition will save business over AUD 504,000 in compliance costs each year.
The consultation is open until 10 December 2025, with proposed tariff changes set to take effect from 1 July 2026.
