The Guardian-Australia and China suspend WTO wine tariff dispute ahead of Anthony Albaneses trip to Beijing
October 21, 2023 2 min 282 words
这篇报道呈现了澳大利亚和中国在葡萄酒关税争端上取得的突破性进展，为即将到来的安东尼·阿尔班尼斯访问北京创造了有利条件。这是一项重要的外交成就，为两国关系的改善奠定了基础。中国在2020年的外交争端中对澳大利亚商品征收了高额关税，其中包括澳大利亚葡萄酒。随着中国政府同意进行“加快审查”，澳大利亚同意暂停在世界贸易组织的争端程序，为解决争端创造了机会。 这一进展标志着两国之间的外交努力，也表明双方愿意通过对话解决分歧。阿尔班尼斯总理的计划访问中国，与习近平主席和李强总理会面，进一步强调了双方改善关系的意愿。此次访问将是自2016年以来澳大利亚总理首次访问中国，也将庆祝1973年第一位澳大利亚总理高夫·惠特拉姆访问中国50周年。 这一外交突破为两国提供了机会，以共同应对挑战，深化经济关系，并促进亚太地区的和平与繁荣。它也表明外交对话和合作是解决国际争端的有效方式。希望这一进展能够为未来的澳中关系注入新的活力。
A long-running dispute between Australia and China over wine tariffs is close to being resolved after a breakthrough in negotiations.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on Sunday the two countries had agreed to suspend their World Trade Organization dispute while Beijing undertakes an “expedited review” of duties, which is expected to take five months.
If the sanctions are not removed at the end of the review, Australia will resume the dispute.
“We welcome China’s agreement to undertake an expedited review of its duties,” Albanese said in a statement. “We are confident of a successful outcome.”
Beijing slapped trade sanctions on $20bn worth of Australian products at the height of a diplomatic feud in 2020.
Relations have improved since the election of the Albanese government, with China lifting tariffs on Australian barley in August.
Australian wine exports to China were valued at more than $1bn before the tariffs were put in place but that figure has plunged to $12m.
The latest breakthrough comes after China earlier in October freed Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained in Beijing for three years after being accused of national security-related offences.
Albanese confirmed on Sunday he would visit China from 4 to 7 November.
He will meet with the president, Xi Jinping, and the premier, Li Qiang, in Beijing in addition to attending the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
It will be the first visit to China by an Australian prime minister since 2016.
The trip will mark the 50th anniversary of the first visit to China by the then prime minister, Gough Whitlam, in 1973.