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China agrees to drop Australia live lobster ban

By AAP Newswire

Oct 10, 2024

DOn Farrell and Anthony Albanese — Australian lobsters will be back on the menu in China after a deal to lift an import embargo. -AAP Image

Australia's lobster industry will regain access to the lucrative Chinese market after the two nations negotiated a resolution to trade barriers.Â

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Beijing maintains a block on live rock lobster imports from Australia despite dropping billions of dollars of other tariffs on Australian products such as barley and wine.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed the embargo would be lifted by the end of 2024 after meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Laos on Thursday.

"Premier Li and I have agreed on a timetable to resume full lobster trade by the end of this year," he told reporters in Vientiane following the meeting.

Live lobsters and two Australian beef processors were the last remaining trade impediments following a years-long trade war between the two nations.

China cited biosecurity concerns over Australian lobster, which the industry rejected.

Mr Albanese hosted Mr Li in Australia in June.

Senate president Sue Lines will lead a parliamentary delegation to China in the middle of October.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press