Australia seeks to join WTO talks on China-E.U. trade row
Australia will seek to be included in consultations over a trade dispute between the European Union and China that the E.U. launched at the World Trade Organisation, the Australian trade minister said on Saturday.
“Australia has a substantial interest in the issues raised in the dispute brought by the European Union against China … and will request to join these consultations,” Trade Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement.
Relations between Australia and China, its top trade partner, soured after Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from its 5G broadband network in 2018, toughened laws against foreign political interference, and urged an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
Beijing responded by freezing ministerial contacts and imposing tariffs on several Australian commodities, such as coal, beef, barley and wine.
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