Don Farrell is in China for the world's largest import trade export, with more than 250 Australian businesses attending.
Senator Farrell will attend the launch of the Australia-China join winemaking and viticulture development program in Shanghai on Monday before speaking at a networking lunch at the expo.
Don Farrell (right) met counterpart Wang Wentao (left) to discuss trade expansion. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
The training program for young winemakers is the first phase of activities signed under an agreement between the Australian Grape and Wine Association and China Alcoholic Drinks Association and will start in March 2025.
He met counterpart Wang Wentao to discuss trade expansion and removing barriers against two Australian abattoirs, the final remnants of a years-long trade war targeting billions of dollars of Australian products including wine and barley.
Mr Wang gave reassurances China's ban on Australian live lobster was on track to end by Christmas, Senator Farrell said, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed to a timeline for the trade barrier to come down.
"He indicated that the Chinese government is working to the timeline," Senator Farrell told AAP from Shanghai on Monday.
Australia-China trade has increased to $327 billion and there was no reason this couldn't increase to $400 billion, Senator Farrell said.
"There is a trade expansion on the horizon after my meeting with Wang Wentao," he said.
Chinese trade blocks remain on Australia's beef industry despite a trade war cooling. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
Of the hundreds of companies at the expo, 100 were premiering at the expo in 2024 and 30 were selling to a Chinese market for the first time.
"We can increase our sales into Australia but we can also increase our sales into the rest of the world," the trade minister said as he pushed companies to diversify into other markets.
Chinese officials audited the Australian beef industry, with trade blocks remaining on two meat processes after restrictions were dropped against eight others as a years-long trade war cooled.
"Australia and China's authorities have recently met to audit the Australian meat system and discuss technical trade matters," Senator Farrell confirmed.
Chinese officials inspecting the two abattoirs to clear biosecurity concerns that resulted in the trade block would be welcomed as Australian processors clear Australian and international standards, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said.
"It's important that if we're to turn the page on a relationship with China, they show that by actually demonstrating that those two processes are allowed back into the market," Mr Littleproud told AAP.
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