China is removing punishing tariffs on Australian wine imposed more than three years ago, restrictions that have all but destroyed a $1.2 billion export market for hundreds of local wineries.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, late on Thursday, said the tariffs would be removed on Friday. They were imposed in late 2020.
The decision abolishes one of China’s last major sanctions on $20 billion worth of Australian exports, imposed when relations soured under the former Coalition government. There are still outstanding restrictions on Australian lobster imports to China and some beef, which the Albanese government has said it hopes will be removed this year.
