A decision by China to remove tariffs imposed on Australian wines has been welcomed by the WA State government and industry leaders, who say the move will help winemakers re-engage with an important market.
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"I'm thrilled by China's decision to remove tariffs on Australian wine," Premier Roger Cook said following the announcement.
"WA wines are world renowned, and I'm pleased that producers will now be able to re-engage with this important market.
MRWA CEO Amanda Whiteland said the industry acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the governments to stabilise relations.
"Before the duties were imposed, mainland China was Margaret River wine's most valuable export market, representing 26 percent of the region's bottled wine export value in 2019," she said.
"As it remains an important wine market, re-entry to mainland China will undoubtably interest some Margaret River wineries.
"However, it's also recognised that China is a different market now, and it will take time and further government support to re-establish.
"The viticulture, wine and wine tourism industries are the lifeblood of many regional communities across the country, but many producers are struggling through challenging trading conditions.
"To regain our standing and make the best use of the opportunity provided by the re-opening of the Chinese market, we hope there will be federal export support mechanisms, including the paused Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) available."
China is WA's largest agrifood and beverage export market, representing more than 18 per cent of the State's total agrifood and beverage exports in 2022-23.
Nicky Lefebvre
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
