Government Prepared To Give Ground To Remove China Trade Restrictions

MNI (Australia) – The Australian is reporting that the Australian trade minister Farrell is expected to travel to Beijing in February for talks to ease tariffs on Australian goods worth A$20bn. Ahead of the meeting he said that the government is prepared to drop two disputes lodged with the WTO against China regarding barley and wine “on the basis that there’s some goodwill on both sides”.

• Farrell also said that Australia would send a letter to Trans-Pacific Partnership countries, which are sceptical China will adhere to WTO rules.
• Rulings on the two WTO cases are due in Q1 2023.
• Australia-India Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement is activated today which removes tariffs on 85% of Australian exports to India. Farrell is expected to travel there in March.
• The government hopes to finalise the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement in the first half of 2023. Australia is also waiting for the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement to pass the House of Lords.
  - The Australian