China's Ministry of Commerce announced last Friday that it was starting a review of the anti-dumping and countervailing duties currently being imposed on Australian barley. This will kick off a domestic process that could potentially resolve a dispute between Australia and China, helping to ease the tensions in

The Chinese government has agreed to an expedited review of the anti-dumping/countervailing duties it has been imposing on Australian barley, leading to a suspension of the WTO dispute on these duties.

With several trade meetings having now taken place, and additional high level ones on the horizon, China and Australia continue to make progress on improving their trade relations, even in the face of political hurdles such as an Australian security agreement with the U.S. and the UK, and new

Media reports suggest that there has been a "snag" in the Australia-China trade discussions taking place right now -- although they "are still going on" -- after China objected to the Australian government's "ban on the proposed Singapore/Chinese investment in an Australian

A recent media interview with the Australian trade minister and an Australian parliamentary hearing offer some updates on developments in China-Australia trade relations, which have appeared to become less contentious under the new Australian government.

In the latest of several media interviews this week, Australia's Trade Minister has sounded positive on the prospects for continued improvements in the Australia-China trade relationship.

In two interviews on Sunday, Australia's trade minister spoke positively about the possibility of some Chinese trade restrictions on Australian goods being lifted.