Can a buyer in Australia import from South Korea?

• Commercial invoice and packing list

  Core shipment and valuation documents.

  TypicalSupplier

• Transport document

  Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.

  TypicalCarrier

• Customs declaration

  Filed by the importer or a customs representative.

  MandatoryBuyer / broker

• Proof of origin

  Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.

  ConditionalSupplier

• Product compliance evidence

  Depends on the product code and intended use.

  ConditionalSupplier

Typical and mandatory are kept separate. Each requirement names the responsible party.

The same facet states, sources, evidence dates, missing inputs and transaction context as structured JSON.

{
  "schema_version": "trade-route-answer.v1",
  "kind": "trade_route_answer",
  "context_id": "TR-AU-KR-A0C250",
  "mode": "third_country",
  "transaction": {
    "buyer": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Buyer in Australia",
      "country": "AU"
    },
    "supplier": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Supplier in South Korea",
      "country": "KR"
    },
    "movement": {
      "ship_from": "KR",
      "origin_country": "KR"
    },
    "goods": {
      "description": null,
      "hs_code": null,
      "end_use": "unknown"
    },
    "payment": {
      "currency": null,
      "bank_jurisdiction": "unknown"
    }
  },
  "verdict": {
    "state": "review",
    "title": "The route is open at country level. Duty, product rules and the supplier remain to be established.",
    "summary": "Australia imports from South Korea across a customs border. No agreement is on record in our register. Classify the goods and verify the supplier before relying on any number."
  },
  "coverage_summary": "3 established · 3 not checked",
  "facets": [
    {
      "key": "route",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Third-country import into Australia",
      "explanation": "South Korea to Australia crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry.",
      "scope": "Country route only. Says nothing about the goods or the parties.",
      "missing_inputs": [],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-tariff-data",
          "source_label": "WTO, tariff data (MFN applied rates by member)",
          "source_url": "https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tariffs_e/tariff_data_e.htm",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live tariff query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "restrictions",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "No country-level sanctions programme on record (Australia)",
      "explanation": "No country-level programme of Australia covers South Korea or Australia in our sanctions register (register reviewed 2026-07-19).",
      "scope": "Country-level programmes only; listed persons and entities are screened per company",
      "missing_inputs": [],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "un-sc-sanctions",
          "source_label": "United Nations Security Council, sanctions information",
          "source_url": "https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Current official programme index"
        },
        {
          "source_id": "au-dfat-sanctions",
          "source_label": "Australia DFAT, sanctions regimes",
          "source_url": "https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/sanctions/sanctions-regimes/russia-sanctions-regime",
          "observed_at": "2026-05-27",
          "source_as_of": "Register reviewed 2026-05-27"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "trade_preference",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No agreement in our register",
      "explanation": "Our register of blocs and bilateral agreements holds nothing for South Korea and Australia. The register is not exhaustive, so this is not a finding that MFN duty applies; check the WTO database before pricing.",
      "scope": "Our agreement register (13 blocs, selected bilateral FTAs)",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the WTO RTA database for the exact pair",
        "Add the exact HS code"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-rta-is",
          "source_label": "WTO, Regional Trade Agreements database",
          "source_url": "https://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live register of notified agreements"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "vat_and_customs",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Import GST 10% in Australia",
      "explanation": "Australia charges import GST of 10% on goods plus freight plus duty. Duty depends on the HS code and is not stated here.",
      "scope": "Standard rate on a B2B import; reduced rates, deferral schemes and duty are outside this statement",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code for the duty rate"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "vat-au",
          "source_label": "ATO Australia",
          "source_url": "https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "goods",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Goods not specified",
      "explanation": "Without the exact HS or CN code neither duty nor product rules can be established.",
      "scope": "Product-specific requirements per code",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS or CN code",
        "Describe the product"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "access2markets",
          "source_label": "Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)",
          "source_url": "https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live product query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "company_screening",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No supplier company selected",
      "explanation": "Country information cannot establish a supplier identity. Select the exact legal entity to screen it.",
      "scope": "No counterparty in scope",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Select or establish the exact legal entity"
      ],
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Commercial invoice and packing list",
      "note": "Core shipment and valuation documents.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Transport document",
      "note": "Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.",
      "responsible_party": "Carrier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Customs declaration",
      "note": "Filed by the importer or a customs representative.",
      "responsible_party": "Buyer / broker",
      "requirement": "Mandatory"
    },
    {
      "title": "Proof of origin",
      "note": "Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    },
    {
      "title": "Product compliance evidence",
      "note": "Depends on the product code and intended use.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    }
  ],
  "next_actions": [
    "company_passport",
    "pre_payment_check",
    "landed_cost",
    "alternative_suppliers",
    "rfq"
  ],
  "human_page": "https://hellofapartner.com/can-i-trade/australia/south-korea"
}