China, Australia engage in talks to solve trade disputes

China and Australia have engaged in extensive discussions at various levels to solve their trade disputes within the framework of the World Trade Organization this year, said the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

The ministry's remarks came in response to media inquiries regarding recent expressions of hope from Australian officials. They have voiced their desire for the trade remedy measures related to the wine dispute between the two countries to be resolved, following the precedent set by the resolution of the barley case within the WTO.

He Yadong, the ministry's spokesman, confirmed that Australia has expressed its concerns regarding the WTO dispute cases related to anti-dumping and countervailing measures on barley and wine taken by China.

In a reciprocal manner, China has expressed its serious apprehensions regarding Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing measures on three specific Chinese products, namely wind towers, railway wheels and deep drawn stainless steel sinks, as well as the improper practices in Australia's trade remedy investigations against China, he told a weekly news conference in Beijing.

The commerce official said that both sides have previously held multiple discussions and have mutually agreed to actively seek a swift resolution to their other ongoing disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

China's wine industry holds immense significance, involving over 1,000 Chinese wine businesses, according to information released by the commerce ministry.

Following the resolution of the barley dispute, China is willing to work with Australia to build further mutual trust and cooperation, taking into full consideration each other's concerns, and advance a comprehensive resolution encompassing the wine case and China's objections to Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures on three types of Chinese products, he added.