China and Australia have recently conducted friendly consultations and reached a consensus on the resolution of the barley dispute under the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), demonstrating the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, said China's Ministry of Commerce.

As two WTO members and important trading partners, China is willing to work with Australia to continue the dialogue, negotiation and cooperation; take into account each other's industry concerns; properly resolve economic and trade disputes, including the two cases still in the expert review group stage of the WTO; and jointly promote stable and long-term bilateral economic and trade relations, the ministry said in an online statement.

Expert review groups perform their duties under the panel's authority of the WTO and report to the panel. The panel determines their terms of reference and detailed working procedures. The final reports of expert review groups are issued to the parties to the dispute when submitted to the panel, according to the rules of the WTO's dispute settlement process.