Australia will suspend its case at the World Trade Organization over China’s tariffs on wine imports ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first trip to the country next month.
China will undertake a review of its wine tariffs that’s expected to take five months, Albanese’s office said in a press release on Sunday. During that period, Australia will suspend its World Trade Organization dispute over China’s actions.
“I welcome the progress we have made to return Australian products, including Australian wine, to the Chinese market,” Albanese said in the statement. “Strong trade benefits both countries.”
China slapped steep tariffs on Australian wine in 2020 as diplomatic relations between the nations soured, with trade in other commodities such as coal and seafood also affected. The wine market was Australia’s most valuable prior to the implementation of duties, worth more than A$1 billion ($631.4 million) in 2018-19 and 2019-20, according to the nation’s agriculture department.
The move toward ending duties on wine follows Beijing’s removal of penalties on the nation’s barley exports in August that allowed for a resumption of trade. Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt noted in a post on social media platform X that the agreement on wine follows the “same process as removal of trade barriers on Aussie barley.”
The prime minister’s visit to China from Nov. 4-7, the first by an Australian leader since 2016, is another sign of warming relations between the two governments.
Albanese will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing and will also attend the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
“I look forward to further engaging with President Xi and Premier Li in Australia’s national interest,” Albanese said.
Read more: Australia Confirms Chinese Firm’s Port Lease as Relations Thaw
--With assistance from Hallie Gu and Ben Sharples.
(An earlier version wrongly stated that China had agreed to suspend tariffs during the review period.)
