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CANBERRA: China has stepped up trade restrictions against Australia, suspending imports of some wood and barley, the agriculture minister said on Tuesday (Nov. 3), amid tension over the coronavirus, Hong Kong and the China Sea Southern.
Chinese authorities are also delaying the dispatch of a $ 1.4 million shipment of live lobsters from Australia.
READ: Australian lobster detained by Chinese customs checks, fuels trade dispute concerns
Beijing has blocked or limited imports of Australian coal, beef and other goods and announced an investigation into whether the wine was being sold at inappropriately low prices.
That follows Beijing’s demands that the Australian government stop supporting an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic that began in central China in December.
“We will work with the Chinese authorities to investigate and resolve these problems,” said Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.
The latest controls apply to timber from Queensland and barley from another Australian producer.
China is Australia’s largest export market. Beijing increasingly uses its status as a growing consumer giant as a lever against other governments in political disputes.
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the quarantine measures were imposed in accordance with the law.
“Meanwhile, mutual respect is the foundation and guarantee of practical cooperation between countries,” said spokesman Wang Wenbin.
“We hope that Australia can do more things that lead to mutual trust, bilateral cooperation and the spirit of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and bring bilateral relations to the right path as soon as possible,” Wang said.
