MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will travel to China later this year to smooth over bumpy diplomatic ties that have now developed into trade problems for some of Australia’s biggest wine and beverage exporters, Fairfax Media reported.
Relations between the two trade partners have cooled significantly in recent months, after Turnbull’s conservative coalition government proposed a bill to limit foreign influence in Australia, including political donations, but which Beijing has interpreted as “anti-China”.
No dates were immediately available for Mr Turnbull’s trip.
Several Australian businesses that export to China have complained that the cool diplomatic ties had spilled over into business, with delays and extra scrutiny being applied at customs and distribution.
Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates Ltd – the world’s biggest listed winemaker and owner of the Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Rosemount labels – has reported unusual delays of its exports hitting Chinese shelves.
Several unidentified Australian business owners who operate in China told Fairfax Media on the weekend that Chinese authorities had been unfairly targeting Australian products.
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo is already in Shanghai on a trade mission, the first visit from an Australian minister this year, but said that there was “limited scope” to resolve issues involving Australian businesses.
