ExplainerChina-Australia trade: what’s the state of relations after 3 years of ups and downs?
Relations soured in 2020 after Canberra asked for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus and Beijing fired back with unofficial bans on Australian productsBut the tide appears to have turned, with two recent trade-minister meetings and a relaxation of import curbsChina-Australia relationsAndrew MullenPublished: 4:00am, 3 Jun, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
After no in-person talks since 2019, the trade ministers from China and Australia met twice in May, highlighting how relations between Beijing and Canberra continue to thaw after years of frosty diplomatic wrangling.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell first travelled to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on May 12 before the pair reunited in the US city of Detroit during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting later in the month.
Relations between China and Australia turned sour in 2020 after the then-Morrison administration asked for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus with other world leaders.
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Australian trade minister visits China, 'hopeful' for trade resolution
Australian trade minister visits China, 'hopeful' for trade resolution
Beijing responded with unofficial bans on Australian products, including lobsters, coal, cotton and logs, while it also imposed official import tariffs on wine and barley.