The Guardian - China-Australian government says yeah no to deal with China to drop wine tariffs
September 24, 2023 3 min 524 words
这则报道反映出澳大利亚政府在与中国就取消葡萄酒关税达成交易的问题上的态度。澳大利亚政府拒绝了中国提出的关税降低与其他贸易问题解决的“包裹交易”。对此，我的看法是，这表明澳大利亚政府坚守了其原则立场，认为这些问题应该被单独处理。 澳大利亚政府的决定体现了其坚持维护国家利益的立场，特别是在面对中国对澳大利亚葡萄酒征收高达212%的关税时。他们坚信这个问题应该通过对话和WTO的渠道来解决，而不是通过交换牺牲来达成协议。这种态度表明了澳大利亚政府对贸易原则和国内产业的坚定支持。 虽然中国提出了妥协的可能性，但澳大利亚政府坚持认为风电塔、铁路车轮和不锈钢水槽等贸易问题是独立的问题，不应与葡萄酒关税挂钩。这种立场凸显了国际贸易中的复杂性，各国必须权衡自身利益和原则。 总的来说，澳大利亚政府在这一问题上的坚持和决心显示出他们愿意通过公平和透明的方式来解决贸易争端，同时保护国内产业的利益。这也强调了国际贸易中各国之间需要进行坦诚对话和合作，以解决分歧。
The Australian government has said “yeah, no” to a reported package deal offer from China to drop its tariffs on Australian wine in return for more favourable treatment of its wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks.
The agriculture, forestries and fisheries minister, Murray Watt, said on Sunday that the Albanese government regards these as “entirely separate matters” but will seek to resolve remaining trade issues through dialogue.
In August, China announced it would remove tariffs on Australian barley, resulting in Australia dropping its dispute in the World Trade Organization.
The Albanese government has maintained its active WTO challenge against China’s tariffs of up to 212% on Australian wine and continues to press for these to be removed.
This week, China’s official news agency, Xinhua, reported that the Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson He Yadong had said Beijing was proposing a “package” deal to end the dispute.
“We are willing to meet the Australian side halfway, further enhance mutual trust and cooperate on the basis of the settlement of the barley case dispute,” he reportedly said.
The Chinese government spokesperson reportedly said both countries needed to “accommodate each other’s concerns”, including about decisions taken by the Australian anti-dumping commission on Chinese wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks.
Asked about the Australian government’s position on the offer, Watt told ABC’s Insiders that “we see these as entirely separate matters”.
“Obviously as a result of the great work of the prime minister, the foreign minister, the trade minister and others, we have been able to stabilise our relationship with China and that is paying dividends for our farmers in areas like barley, horticulture, cotton and others.
“But wine remains an issue that we want to see resolved … in the same way the barley dispute was resolved – through dialogue.
“We will continue our case before the WTO about China’s anti-dumping tariffs when it comes to wine.
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“That trade was worth about a billion dollars to Australia before those tariffs were imposed. It is down to about $16m a year now, so it is important.”
Asked if that was a no to the package deal, Watt replied: “Yeah, no.
“We see them as entirely separate matters. We will continue our WTO case when it comes to wine and we will continue to defend the case when it comes to steel, but we hope that all of these thing also be resolved by dialogue.”
Earlier in September, the government revealed the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will travel to China, another key step in efforts to “stabilise” a relationship that hit rock bottom in 2020.
Albanese’s trip is likely to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s first trip to China as prime minister.