Industry remains hopeful rock lobster tariffs will be lifted despite no news during Chinese Premier’s visit

The rock lobster industry remains hopeful trade restrictions on its shelled exports will be scrapped despite no announcements being made during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Perth this week. WA’s rock lobster fishery is clinging to hope that crayfish imports will resume soon, following China’s decision to lift Australian wine tariffs in March. Lobsters are the final items to still be weighed down by crippling tariffs. Sanctions have been removed from a range of products including beef, barley, wine, coal, cotton and timber, as tensions dating back to the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic thawed. Premier Roger Cook had anticipated an “imminent announcement” on the seafood sanctions amid Mr Li’s visit. Lobster was served on the menu at the Chinese Community banquet on Tuesday, but as hundreds of businesses and community leaders tucked into their seafood entree, no announcement was made. Despite this, Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative CEO Marc Anderson said he was hopeful the sanctions would be lifted soon. “We welcome the efforts of the Australian and Chinese governments to recalibrate and improve diplomatic relations. Our nations have much to gain from closer trade,” he said. “The recent visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang demonstrates the improving engagement between our two nations, giving us hope that the remaining trade issues will be resolved soon.” Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told media they wanted the barriers lifted, which were put in place in 2020 after a trade spat soon after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. The PM said he was confident the barriers to lobster exports would soon be a thing of the past.