This week in Australian foreign affairs: agreement reached with China over barley dispute and WTO dispute paused; concern about escalating violence in Israel, Palestinian Territories and Lebanon; bilateral talks between Australian and Chinese senior officials; and more.

On 11 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong issued a joint statement alongside Minister for Trade Don Farrell and Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt announcing that the Australian Government “has reached an agreement with China that creates a pathway towards resolving the dispute over Australian barley.” The announcement follows “recent constructive dialogue at all levels” and the agreement consists of China undertaking “an expedited review of the duties [on Australian barley] over a three-month period, which may extend to a fourth if required.” Australia has also agreed to “temporarily suspend the WTO dispute for the agreed review period” and will “resume the dispute in the WTO” if the duties are not lifted at the end of the review period. The Ministers also noted that they “remain confident in the outcome for Australian wine at the WTO” but that if the barley agreement is successful “in providing a pathway for lifting duties on barley, [they] expect a similar process to be followed to remove trade barriers for Australian wine.” Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Birmingham and Shadow Minister for Trade Kevin Hogan noted their “cautious optimism” at the announcement, and noted that “the ultimate value of this process will be judged on the outcomes achieved.”

Wong noted Australia’s deep concern about “the escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon” on 9 April and called on “all parties to immediately work to halt the violence, exercise restraint and restore calm.” She stated that “Australia condemns unreservedly the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israel’s right to defend itself.” Wong also stated that “Violence at Al Aqsa, including against worshippers, is reprehensible” and that “security operations must be proportionate and in accordance with international law.” She further noted that “events in recent days are urgent reminders of the need for leaders to work together to foster the conditions necessary for tolerance and peace.”

On 12 April, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) acknowledged that Australia and China held bilateral talks that day in Canberra between senior officials, Secretary of DFAT Jan Adams and China’s Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu. Their discussion “covered a range of bilateral and international topics, including trade, consular, human rights, strategic competition, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” Secretary Adams noted that “it was in the shared interests of Australia and China to continue on the path of stabilising the bilateral relationship.”

DFAT issued a statement on the “harsh sentenc[ing]” of human rights lawyers Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi in China on 11 April. DFAT noted that “the crimes Mr Xu and Mr Ding are alleged to have committed appear to be related to their exercise of rights to freedom of speech and association guaranteed under China’s constitution” and urged China “to meet its international human rights obligations with respect to Mr Xu and Mr Ding.”

On 12 April, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts addressed the Australia-India Business Engagement Roundtable, where he noted that “India is now Australia’s biggest source of skilled migrants and our second biggest source of international students.” Watts also acknowledged that “India is currently Australia’s sixth largest trading partner, but we know that there is so much potential in this economic relationship.” He referred to Australia’s Indian diaspora communities as being “the key to unlocking this [economic] potential”.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy announced on 11 April that he will be travelling to Samoa and Vanuatu this week “to strengthen Australia’s deep and longstanding partnerships in the Pacific.” In Samoa, Conroy will meet with Samoa’s Head of State, Tuimaleal’llfano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa and senior members of her cabinet. He noted that he “look[s] forward to progressing our Australia-Samoa Bilateral Partnership Arrangement – which was signed earlier this year – through discussions on climate action, regional security, sport and labour mobility.” Conroy will also visit the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program where he will “listen to regional perspectives on environmentally sustainable development.” In Vanuatu, Conroy will meet Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau and the pair will “discuss Australia’s commitment to our security partnership and our continued support to Vanuatu’s recovery following the recent devastating tropical cyclones Kevin and Judy.” He will also meet with “NGO partners” in Vanuatu “to acknowledge their contributions towards humanitarian and disaster response, and [to hear] how they are supporting affected communities.” Conroy reiterated the Australian Government’s “deep commit[ment] to working closely with all members of the Pacific family towards our shared goal of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific region now and into the future.”

Isabella Keith is a weekly columnist for Australian Outlook. She is also a Research Assistant, Sessional Academic, and Honours student in Law at the Australian National University, with a focus on international law. Isabella attended the AIIA #NextGen study tour to South Korea last year, and was also a delegate to the AIIA’s Australia-Korea-New Zealand and Australia-United States-Japan Policy Forums. She can be found on Twitter here.

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