The Australian government is continuing to pursue a WTO case against China over crippling wine tariffs, rejecting a reported package deal on offer from China that seeks better terms for Chinese wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks.

The Australian agriculture, forestry’s and fisheries minister Murray Watt said that the government regards the two dispute (steel and wine) as “entirely separate matters” and would seek to resolve trade issues through dialogue, resisting the move to lump them together as one dispute.

Speaking at the weekend, Watt noted the “great work” that the Australian prime minister, foreign minister, trade minister and others had done in stabilising the country’s relationship with China, which was “paying dividends for our farmers in areas like barley, horticulture, cotton and others”.

However he said wine remained an issue that the government wanted to see resolved through dialogue, citing the resolution of the barley dispute earlier this year – which was resolved after Australia dropped its WTO case.

The Australian agriculture, forestry’s and fisheries minister Murray Watt said that the government regards the two dispute (steel and wine) as “entirely separate matters” and would seek to resolve trade issues through dialogue, resisting the move to lump them together as one dispute.