TRADE minister Don Farrell says he will highlight the value of Australian export goods during meetings this week in Japan and China.
Senator Farrell is travelling to East Asia as part of the government's stated goal of strengthening Australia’s trade, investment and energy security relationships “with two of our most important trading partners in the region”.
In Tokyo, he is to meet his counterpart, trade minister Ryosei Akazawa, for the sixth Australia-Japan Ministerial Economic Dialogue.
“I will also back in Australian exporters at several business events as we seek to build on our $97.5 billion trading relationship by selling more of Australia’s world-class goods and attracting more investment into Australia,” Senator Farrell said.
“The visit to Japan will advance energy and economic security outcomes from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent visit to Australia.”
He said the relationship with Japan never had been stronger and it was “more important than ever that we deepen our cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership”.
Senator Farrell is also meeting with Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao for the 18th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission (JMEC), the meeting occurring in the famous cultural city of Suzhou.
“JMEC is central to our relationship with our largest trading partner and will cover issues across the breadth of the trade and economic relationship, including energy supply.
“Australia and China are important trading partners, with total two-way goods and services trade between Australia and China valued at $326 billion in 2025,” he said.
In Suzhou he is to represent Australia at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting.
According to DFAT, APEC’s 21 member economies account for about 73% of Australia’s total trade in goods and services.
“As a trading nation, Australia has always been an advocate of free and fair trade and in Suzhou, I will continue to champion our support for the rules-based trading order and the certainty this provides to the global economy and to Australian businesses,” the minister said.