China’s punitive trade actions on Australian beef and lobster exports may be lifted by the end of the year, Trade Minister Don Farrell said, in what would be the latest sign of warming ties between the two governments.

Farrell told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. he is due to meet with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on the sidelines of APEC meetings in the US on Wednesday. He said the restrictions around lobster and beef were “biosecurity issues” compared with tariffs imposed on wine and barley more than three years ago.