--- title: Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell is an optimistic sort of person description: Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell says he is an optimistic sort of person image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/trade-don-farrell-2.jpg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [China](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/china) , ###### [Australian Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australian-leadership) , ###### [International Trade](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/international-trade) # Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell is an optimistic sort of person In an interview with Patricia Karvelas on ABC Radio National, Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell said, "I'm an optimistic sort of person." It was in the context of China-Australia relations. **Patricia Karvelas:** Minister, in 2020 China placed restrictions and total bans on Australian products like rock lobster and barley and wine and coal. You've met – rather, you're yet to meet with your Chinese counterpart. But you have said that Beijing could be willing to come back to the table and lift some of those restrictions. How optimistic are you that that could actually happen soon? **Minister for Trade, Don Farrell:** Look, I'm an optimistic sort of person, Patricia. **Patricia Karvelas:** Is it just random optimism, though? Like just hoping? Or do you have some evidence for it? **Minister for Trade, Don Farrell:** No, it's more than that. When I first took over the job of Trade Minister for Australia, I issued the olive branch to my Chinese equivalent. We weren't able to meet in Geneva, but on my return, I got a very warm letter from the Chinese Trade Minister, and I replied to him that we were willing to meet at any stage. There had been some hope that we might have been able to do that on the edges of the G20 meeting in Bali a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately my schedule changed because of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and we had to reschedule parliament. And so, there wasn't an opportunity to do that. But you might note that the Chinese Ambassador to Australia gave a speech to the Press Club a couple of weeks ago where he indicated I think quite positively that China is willing to sort out some of these issues by discussion.     [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Victoria](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/victoria) , ###### [Happiness](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/happiness) , ###### [Policy](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/policy) , ###### [Optimism Gap](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/optimism-gap) #### [Heading in the Right Direction?  Australia’s States and Territories?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/heading-in-the-right-direction-australias-states-and-territories?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/heading-in-the-right-direction-australias-states-and-territories?hsLang=en) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [India](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/india) , ###### [Divide Between Personal and National Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/divide-between-personal-and-national-optimism) , ###### [Sweden](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/sweden) , ###### [France](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/france) #### [Are We Heading in the Right Direction?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/are-we-heading-in-the-right-direction?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/are-we-heading-in-the-right-direction?hsLang=en) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Farmers](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/farmers) #### [Optimism with Dirt on Its Boots](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/optimism-with-dirt-on-its-boots?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/optimism-with-dirt-on-its-boots?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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