Trade Minister Mark Vaile today welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on China's accession to the World Trade Organisation.

"All of the remaining issues for China's WTO membership have been resolved on terms that advance and fully protect Australia's interests in China," Mr Vaile said.

"China's membership of the WTO will be good for Australia, good for China, good for the region, and good for the rules-based multilateral trading system."

Mr Vaile was responding to the adoption last night of the report of the WTO working party on China's accession after close to 15 years of negotiations.  China is Australia's third largest trading partner.

"Australia has been a long-term and consistent supporter of China's WTO membership, being one of the first countries to engage China in market access negotiations.  We look forward to China's membership contributing solidly to further significant expansion in the very valuable bilateral commercial relationship."

There will be significant benefits for all sectors of the Australian economy flowing from China's membership.  China will undertake commitments to reduce tariffs, eliminate non-tariff barriers, open up markets in the services sector, improve transparency of trade regulations, eliminate restrictions on the trading rights of enterprises in China, apply quarantine and other standards in a manner consistent with the WTO, establish processes for review and appeal of administrative decisions relating to trade, and adopt other WTO rules.  Importantly for Australia, China will also undertake not to introduce export subsidies in the agricultural sector.

"I was particularly pleased that Australia secured some further additional benefits in the final days of the negotiations that will benefit exporters.  In particular, faster tariff reductions for malt and an even greater reduction in China's sugar tariff compared to what had been negotiated earlier.  We also succeeded in securing elimination of Chinese price controls on sugar and some types of cotton," Mr Vaile said.

"The working party considering Taiwan's accession is likely to conclude tonight.  The accession of Tawian - Australia's eighth largest trading partner - will also deliver significant benefits to Australian exporters."

Ministers will now be able to take a formal decision on China's accession at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha in November.  It will then be possible for China to finalise the ratification procedure and join the WTO around the end of this year or early next year.