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China has agreed to renew imports of stay Australian lobsters this yr, prime minister Anthony Albanese mentioned, a transfer that may take away the ultimate main commerce barrier in a four-year diplomatic spat between the 2 nations.
Mr Albanese introduced the breakthrough in talks following a gathering with Chinese language premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of Asean summit in Laos on Thursday.
“I’m happy to announce that Premier Li and I’ve agreed on a timetable to renew full lobster commerce by the tip of this yr,” Mr Albanese instructed reporters.
China imposed a ban on Australian-caught lobster imports in 2020 as a part of its efforts to downgrade diplomatic and commerce ties with Australia after the earlier Australian authorities referred to as for an unbiased investigation into the origins and dealing with of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response, Beijing launched a sequence of official and unofficial commerce limitations on Australian merchandise, together with beef, barley, coal, wooden, and wine, leading to an annual lack of commerce value AUD 20bn (£1bn).
The return of Australian lobsters to Chinese language seafood markets would mark a major milestone for the Albanese administration, which has labored towards stabilising relations with China since his centre-left Labour Social gathering entered authorities in 2022.
Mr Albanese mentioned he and the Chinese language premier had agreed to renew full lobster commerce by the tip of 2024, in time for Chinese language New Yr.
“This shall be welcomed by the folks engaged within the stay lobster business in locations like Geraldton and South Australia and Tasmania and so many components of notably regional Australia,” Mr Albanese added.
China’s international ministry didn’t remark straight on the lifting of the ban however a spokesperson instructed a information briefing the nation was keen to work with Australia to “correctly resolve problems with mutual concern by means of dialogue”.
China was the largest marketplace for Australian rock lobster, accounting for 90 per cent of exports, earlier than the ban. The lobster commerce was value greater than AUD 700m (£359m) in 2019.
Lobster was one of many final main merchandise banned by Beijing after it lifted prohibitive tariffs on Australian wine and restrictions on Australian beef in December 2023.
