Anthony Albanese confirms visit to China, to meet with President Xi Jinping
China has agreed to review tariffs on Australian wine signalling a significant breakthrough between the two countries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed he will visit China on November 4, announcing a promising review of crippling trade tariffs on Australian wine.
In a statement released on Sunday, the PM said his historic visit follows months of “productive discussions” around trade tensions between China and Australia.
He affirmed the trip was 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,” the PM said.
China, who is Australia’s largest trading partner, scrapped its tariffs on Australian barley earlier this year, but has yet to wind back restrictions on Australian wine.
The wine tariffs were introduced in 2020 amid worsening relations between China and the former Coalition government.
Mr Albanese said on Sunday the two nations had “reached an agreement” to resolve the ongoing dispute.
“We welcome China’s agreement to undertake an expedited review of its duties. This process is expected to take five months,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia and China have agreed we will suspend the dispute on wine in the WTO pending the outcome of this review.
“If the duties are not removed at the end of the review, Australia will resume the dispute in the WTO. We are confident of a successful outcome.”
Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, said Mr Albanese’s visit would lay a solid foundation for a “friendly and cooperative relationship” between the two nations over the coming decades.
Senior Liberal Simon Birmingham said he welcomed China’s easing of the wine tariffs but claimed they should have never been put in place.
“It was an attempt (at) economic coercion by China. The tariffs were never justified and it is no coincidence that China and Australia received the draft report from the World Trade Organisation into Australia‘s appeal against the tariffs only in the last week,” he said on Sunday.
“I am confident that draft report would have found that these tariffs were against the rules of the WTO, in breach of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.”
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