In an interview with WION on Tuesday, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan discussed the ongoing trade dispute with China over anti-dumping duties and the Australian-Indian Economic Strategy 2035, which focuses on bilateral economic and trade ties.
The interviewer, Molly Compere, questioned the Minister on Australia’s decision to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over trade disputes with China after it imposed anti-dumping duties on Australia’s wine and barley as a retaliatory measure against the latter’s demand for an independent probe into the origins of coronavirus. Australia decided to lodge a formal complaint with the trade resolution mechanism of the WTO after failing to negotiate the tariffs via diplomatic channels for months.
Also Read: Australia Requests WTO to Mediate Trade Dispute With China
On being probed regarding engagement with China via diplomatic channels, the Minister recalled Australian officials raising the issue with Chinese officials while trying to ascertain the cause behind the imposition of anti-dumping duties on barley and wine. Nevertheless, while commenting on the timeline for legal action, he hoped for a diplomatic solution before initiating the process with the WTO and indicated the Australian government’s willingness to sit down with the Chinese government to resolve the issue.
Also Read: China Launches Anti-Dumping Investigation Into Australian Wine Exports
The Minister also discussed the losses incurred by the Australian wine growers and producers, as it was exporting wine worth $1 billion to China before the latter imposed tariffs, which reduced it to tens of millions of dollars. He also talked about the expanding wine market and increasing sales of Australian wine to the United Kingdom (UK). That being said, despite having access to new markets, he hoped to restore trade ties with China, since strained relations have also affected its coal exports to China. Australia has, however, diversified its markets and supplies coal to India, Europe, and South America.
The interviewer further questioned the Australian government’s call for an independent probe into the origins of COVID-19, which is believed to have kickstarted Australia’s diplomatic and trade spats with China. The Minister responded by reaffirming Australia's commitment to uncovering the origins of COVID-19, despite financial losses, for better protection and formulation of strategies to end the pandemic.
Also Read: Australia-China Ties Strained After Morrison Calls for Global Review Into COVID-19 Crisis
Apart from trade and diplomatic disputes with China, the Minister also talked about forging alliances with India, focusing on bilateral trade and economic relations. He also discussed the significance of the Australian-Indian Economic Strategy 2035 in boosting bilateral trade and investment opportunities. Furthermore, the Minister mulled over the possibility of entering into a Free-Trade Agreement with India and said that he had held talks with his Indian counterpart, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. He hoped to send a proposal to strengthen economic relations between both countries at the earliest.
On the COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver demand put forth by India, the Minister reiterated Australia’s support for increasing vaccine production. He said, “We’ve been playing a very constructive role in Geneva at the World Trade Organization on trying to get a breakthrough when it comes to how we can increase the number of vaccines manufactured globally.”
Towards the end of the interview, while commenting on domestic and international tourism, the Minister said that Australia hopes to open up its borders for international tourists by the second half of 2022.