Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed

Australia slowly 'stabilizing' relationship with China: Australian FM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Apr 2023 09:04
3 Min Read

The Australian Foreign Minister says her country would be temporarily suspending its complaint to the World Trade Organization after China had agreed to review its barley tariffs.

  • x
  • Australia
    Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a Quad Ministers' panel at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, India on March 3, 2023 (Reuters)

Australia indicated on Tuesday that it was getting closer to "stabilizing" its fraught relationship with China, as the two countries moved to solve a trade dispute over barley exports.

The once-warm trading relationship has soured in recent years as Australia sought closer military ties with the United States.

Beijing imposed hefty tariffs on key commodities such as barley, beef, and wine in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute inflamed by Australia's former conservative government.

Australia retaliated by complaining to the World Trade Organization, claiming that China had breached international obligations by artificially jacking up tariffs "without justification".

But the country's center-left government has adopted a far less confrontational stance since its election in May last year, prioritizing the resumption of trade.

In the latest sign of thawing tensions between the countries, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her country would be temporarily suspending its complaint after China had agreed to review its barley tariffs.

"We have made it clear that we believe there's no justification for the measures that China introduced in relation to barley," Wong told reporters.

"We have also made clear that we believe it is in both countries' interests for these trade impediments to be removed," she added.

Wong, who visited Beijing in December, said this demonstrated Australia was slowly "stabilizing the relationship with China."

The tariffs, as well as an unofficial ban on Australian coal, are estimated to have cost more than Aus$5 billion (US$3.47 billion) in lost revenue from China.

Related News

China retaliates, bans EU medical devices in trade dispute

Taiwan condemns China’s new air route over strait, warns of escalation

Meanwhile, Beijing has confirmed that Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will travel to Australia later this week, making him one of the most senior officials to visit in years.

Australia faces a difficult balancing act -- China is its largest trading partner, but the United States is a crucial military ally.

Australia, China hold 'professional' defense talks: Spokesperson

A couple of weeks ago, officials confirmed that China and Australia held defense talks focused on regional security issues, just days after Beijing condemned Canberra's plan to deploy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

An Australian defense spokesperson confirmed that Australian defense officials hosted a team from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the discussions in Canberra.

The half-day talks were the latest sign that China and Australia are re-engaging after a diplomatic freeze.

China warned Australia, Britain, and the United States that they were walking "a path of error and danger" after their March 13 announcement of a long-term deal to equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines armed with cruise missiles

Australia plans to buy up to five US nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with US and British technology.

The decades-long deal has sparked debate about the cost -- hundreds of billions of dollars over three decades -- and the strategy of Australia binding its future defense to the United States and Britain.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said he was pleased that "normal dialogue" had resumed but declined to give further details of the discussions.

According to the Australians, the talks -- "conducted in a professional atmosphere" -- were the first formal meeting of the two countries' defense officials since 2019.

Read more: China's Minister of Commerce slams Australia after banning TikTok

  • Beijing
  • canberra
  • Penny Wong
  • China
  • Australia

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS