Australia shifts focus from ASEAN to individual Southeast Asian nations

TOKYO -- The strained relationship between Australia and China has finally begun to thaw, thanks to efforts by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to patch up ties with the country's major trading partner. Yet the rapprochement with China is not the only economic diplomacy Canberra is pursuing: It is also seeking a major change in relations with Southeast Asia's regional bloc, ASEAN.

The reconciliation between Australia and China began at the end of March, when Beijing scrapped import duties of up to 218% on Aussie wine, first introduced in 2021. Albanese welcomed the step, saying "the reentry of Australian bottled wine into the Chinese market will benefit both Australian producers and Chinese consumers." He said the government would continue pushing for an end to the remaining Chinese tariffs, such as those on lobster and beef.