Australia Eyes Lobster, Beef Trade Barriers After Wine Breakthrough

Basket of live western rock lobsters in Fremantle in Western Australia. Trevor Collens/Getty Images

After lifting Chinese trade barriers on timber, coal, and barley, the Australian government is now aiming to do the same with lobster and beef.

This comes as Prime Minister Albanese confirmed on the weekend that he will be travelling to China from Nov. 4 to Nov. 7.

Mr. Albanese also revealed Australia has reached a deal to resolve its World Trade Organisation (WTO) wine dispute with China.

The trade agreement was announced just two days after the government announced a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin, held by a Chinese company with links to the communist regime, would not be cancelled.

Beef and Rock Lobster

Commenting on future trade priorities, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told Sky News Australia said there are two other hurdles regarding trade that remain with China.

“There are two others [hurdles] in particular which remain and which we’ve been advocating on for some time,” Mr. Watt said.

“The first is rock lobster, which again, has been facing massive trade barriers, and also there are some beef processing established, so some abattoirs in Australia are currently not able to supply into China.

“Despite that, China is still our biggest market for beef exports, but we would like to see those trade barriers lifted on both lobster and beef and we will continue advocating for that.”

Boxes of lobsters seized by Hong Kong customs are displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong on Nov. 16, 2021, as authorities stepped up a crackdown on rampant smuggling of Australian rock lobsters into mainland China after Beijing imposed a trade ban on the popular seafood. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

With regard to wine, China has agreed to “undertake an expedited review of its duties,” a five month process.

Since the Australian government stepped into power in 2022, it has also managed to resolve sanctions on barley and other products.

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham noted the tariffs should never have been implemented in the first place.

“It was an attempt at economic coercion by China. The tariffs were never justified,” he said.

“They are clearly in breach of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the undertakings that China had given to Australia,” he said.

“And so, they should not just be reviewed, but they should be removed and removed forthwith.”

Visit to China

Mr. Albanese will be travelling to China in the first week of November to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

The prime minister said the visit will build on his “productive discussions with President Xi and premier Li” in the last 12 months and higher ministerial engagement during that time period.

“I look forward to visiting China, an important step towards ensuring a stable and productive relationship,” Mr. Albanese said.

“I look forward to further engaging with President Xi and Premier Li in Australia’s national interest.

“Prime Minister [Gough] Whitlam’s historic visit laid the groundwork for the diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties that continue to benefit our countries today.”

Questions Regarding Port decision

Meanwhile, the Opposition heavily criticised the way the Albanese government released the decision on the Port of Darwin.

“The government’s release of its decision not to cancel the Port of Darwin lease, without standing up and explaining the decision, is an appalling display of weak leadership by the prime minister,” Mr. Birmingham said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Albanese has landed in the United States for talks with President Joe Biden prior to his China trip.

“The relationship between Australia and the United States is so important. In today’s turbulent world, it is a relationship that provides security, stability, based upon our common values and our position as great democratic nations working together to promote those values throughout the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world,” Mr. Albanese told media.

At this stage, the prime minister has not confirmed any trip to Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.