China Australia photo: VCG

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video call on Wednesday with Australian Special Minister of State Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins to exchange views on issues including Australia's global safeguard investigation into beef, according to a Friday press release on the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)'s official website. Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the MOFCOM and vice minister of commerce, also took part in the video call.

Wang said that the investigation was launched at the request of China's domestic industry and is in line with WTO rules and Chinese law, noting that the measures are intended as a temporary response to address difficulties faced by the domestic sector rather than to restrict normal trade, and that China is willing to maintain close communication with all parties, including Australia.



Global Times