China axes Covid-era tariffs on Australian wine
By Frances Mao
China has announced it will remove significant tariffs on Australian wine in another key sign of improving relations between the two countries.
Beijing imposed taxes of more than 200% in 2020 amid a string of economic blows to Australian exports.
That year Beijing targeted Australian coal, barley, timber and lobsters as part of a wider political falling-out.
But China-Australia relations have improved since a new Canberra government was elected in 2022.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the announcement from the Chinese commerce ministry on Thursday, saying his government had also managed to reduce other trade barriers.
Last August, China removed the tariffs it had imposed on Australian barley – another key commodity that had been targeted.
“This outcome affirms the calm and consistent approach taken by the Albanese Labor Government and follows the success of the similar approach taken to remove duties on Australian barley,” Prime Minister Albanese said in a statement.
He said his government was still lobbying China on removing remaining tariffs on commodities such as beef and lobster.
