Australia has agreed to suspend its World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute over China’s wine tariffs after China said it would expedite a review of its existing duties.
Australia has successfully reached agreements with China over previous duties on Australian barley and has since engaged actively to secure a similar process to resolve the WTO wine dispute with China.
The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to China in November, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and also attend the China International Import Expo.
The Prime Minister’s office said that while it was “confident of a successful outcome” if the duties on Australian wine are not removed at the end of China’s review then Australia will resume the dispute in the WTO.
The Prime Minister said: “I welcome the progress we have made to return Australian products, including Australian wine, to the Chinese market. Strong trade benefits both countries.
“I look forward to visiting China, an important step towards ensuring a stable and productive relationship.
“I look forward to further engaging with President Xi and Premier Li in Australia’s national interest.”
Speaking to 6PR Perth on Saturday night the PM added: ““I welcome the progress we have made to return Australian products, including Australian wine, to the Chinese market. Strong trade benefits both countries.
“I look forward to visiting China, an important step towards ensuring a stable and productive relationship.
“I look forward to further engaging with President Xi and Premier Li in Australia’s national interest.”
Speaking to 6PR Perth on Saturday night the PM added: “We have been engaging with our Chinese counterparts, [and wine tariffs is] something that I raised with President Xi last year, and I raised with Premier Li, when I met with him in Jakarta and then at the G20 in India just a month ago, stressed how important it is.
“We know that for WA wine growers, there’s been some bumper yields recently and we need to make sure that that wine is able to access markets, and the Chinese market is very important. So, it is something, we’re having a full court press with our counterparts, as well.
“We’ve been successful in areas like barley and hay and timber and other products, and we want to make sure that wine growers can continue to not just thrive, but thrive in a way that benefits not just them, but benefits China, as well. It’s a great product. Why wouldn’t you want it on your table?”
