China must end a freeze on contacts with senior Australian politicians if it hopes to join a trans-Pacific trade pact, Canberra's trade minister said Wednesday, setting de facto preconditions for accession.
Dan Tehan linked China's bid to join an 11-nation trading alliance with steps to improve bilateral relations that are at their lowest ebb in decades.
"When I became trade minister, I wrote to my Chinese counterpart in January setting out how we can work more closely together. I am still waiting for a reply," Tehan said in a Monday speech. "All parties will want to be confident that any new member will meet, implement and adhere to the high standards of the agreement as well as to their WTO commitments and their existing trade agreements," he said.Australia this month asked the WTO to rule against China's imposition of crippling tariffs on Australian wine exports, after initial consultations failed to resolve the dispute.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MARKET WRAP: JSE slips on China risks, caution ahead of central bank meetingsJSE all share index has its biggest one-day drop in four weeks
Read more »
LETTER: China sets the example with nuclearWind turbines and solar panels won’t supply the base load required
Read more »
LETTER: Peace doesn’t exist without warTerry Crawford-Browne’s rant against the security pact between the US, UK and Australia is misguided
Read more »
France’s fury over cancelled $66bn submarine order strains relations with alliesMacron makes it clear that French fury isn’t ebbing after Australia cancelled the submarine order in favour of a new defence pact with US and UK
Read more »
France’s fury over cancelled $66bn submarine order strains relations with alliesMacron makes it clear that French fury isn’t ebbing after Australia cancelled the submarine order in favour of a new defence pact with US and UK
Read more »