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SYDNEY: Australia stopped shipping lobster to its largest market in China after new Chinese customs inspections were imposed on live seafood, an Australian government and industry group said.
The further inspection delays come amid diplomatic tensions between the two nations, raising concerns in Australia that the live seafood trade will be the latest target sector of Beijing’s trade retaliation.
Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Australia had “serious concerns” about the inspections that began on Friday (October 30), and Australian officials were working to obtain clarification from Beijing.
The rock lobster is being checked for trace minerals and metals, he told ABC television, adding that the shellfish had already been tasted before leaving Australia. He questioned “why is this action being taken against the Australian lobster”.
The Seafood Trade Advisory Group said on Sunday that most Australian exporters had stopped shipping lobster to China due to the risk of delays caused by increased import inspections in China.
“While some of the cargo has been cleared, there are continued risks of delays while new processes are implemented,” the group said in a statement.
“To mitigate this risk, most exporters have made the decision to stop shipping shipments to China until more is known about the new process.”
From 2018 to 2019, China was the destination for about 94 percent of the AU $ 752 million (US $ 527 million) in rock lobster exports, according to government data.
Tom Cosentino, chief executive of exporter Southern Rocklobster, said he believed it was “an exaggeration to say this is related to any trade dispute.”
“We will find out much more today about the new selection processes,” he told Reuters.
China has been angered by Australia’s request for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, and this year it imposed dumping duties on Australian barley, suspended some beef imports, launched a dumping investigation on Australian wine, and changed. conditions for Australian cotton.
