Editorial | Lobsters deal whets appetite for better China-Australia ties
Lifting of ban by mainland China on the Australian seafood raises hopes of a continuing improvement in relations between two countries
Lobsters shed their shells and form new ones as they mature, a process which seems a good metaphor for the recent settling of a trade dispute that had taken Australian lobsters off the menu for mainland diners. Hopefully, there is now room for healthier bilateral ties after the end of an unofficial import ban on the Australian seafood that was in place for more than three years.
The deal emerged on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Laos, when Premier Li Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met last Thursday.
Lobster lovers on the mainland are not the only ones expected to welcome the move. Before the ban, Australian lobster exporters relied on mainland markets to snap up 95 per cent of their catch worth US$504 million.
Things soured in 2020 when seafood shipments were unofficially blocked by Beijing after the former Australian administration of Scott Morrison joined world leaders asking for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.
It is telling that the news was broken by Albanese, who understandably was keen to let Australia’s live lobster producers know they can expect a boost from restrictions being eased “in time for Chinese New Year”. Li said China hoped to move forward with “more steps to deepen reforms and provide an internationalised business environment”.
