Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will lift the ban on Australian rock lobster exports to China by the end of this year. The decision was confirmed after a one-on-one meeting between Albanese and CCP Premier Li Qiang at the 44th ASEAN summit. Albanese stated that this move would be welcomed by those involved in the live lobster industry, as it would create job opportunities in regional areas of Australia. He also highlighted that Australia’s trade with its largest export market has been restored through a patient and deliberate approach.
The ban on lobster exports was initially imposed during the pandemic when Australia called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. In response, China implemented several bans on various Australian exports, including wine, barley, timber, beef, and lobster. However, iron ore remained unaffected due to China’s reliance on this commodity.
Meanwhile, at the ongoing ASEAN summit in Laos, discussions are focused on regional security and trade issues. The summit also addresses Beijing’s aggression in the region following its launch of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) into the Pacific on September 25th.
Albanese revealed that he had discussed a range of regional and international security concerns with Premier Li Qiang. This included Australia’s worries about destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and China’s recent ballistic missile test. He emphasized adherence to international rules such as the U.N. Convention on Law of Sea to avoid any incidents between military forces.
Australia has identified Southeast Asia as a key market despite its strong economic ties with China. The government recognizes Southeast Asia as its second-largest trading partner with significant job opportunities dependent upon trade relations in this region.
At the broader summit, security issues in Myanmar (Burma) and territorial disputes in South China Sea are expected to be major topics for discussion among ASEAN member states along with other countries like Japan, South Korea India,and Australia.