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After a year constantly worsening relations between Beijing and Canberra, China has imposed a series of trade measures that would block millions of dollars in Australian goods from its largest trading partner.
Restrictions on shipments of beef, barley, coal, lobster, wine and wood have taken many forms. Some measures are needed, such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on barley, which allow Australia transfer the matter to the World Trade Organization.
Others, ranging from verbal warnings to bans on individual companies, are less clear. As for coal, for example, China has not even officially recognized the restrictions, paving the way for Canberra to seek a return to business as usual. Some products have been blocked for health and pest reasons. China, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it has acted in accordance with international law and practice.
Here are the different ways in which China has curbed Australian imports:
Coal
China he verbally told power plants and steel mills to suspend Australian coal imports, according to people familiar with the issue in October, rather than put it in writing. This creates uncertainty about how long the stops will last and how it may affect existing long-term contracts.
This is not the first time China has cleaned Australian coal: it was targeting imports as early as January 2019. The restrictions ranged from a direct ban on shipments, subjecting loads to additional testing and delays in customs clearance or through a system of annual fees that limits all purchases abroad, including those from Down Under.
A report in China’s Global Times on December 13, which has since been removed, suggested that Beijing has formalized its shutdown by giving approval to utility companies to import coal without restrictions, except from Australia. .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that if the report proved to be accurate, it would breach of the free trade agreement that China and Australia signed in 2015. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the government was unaware of the situation when asked about the report. state media.
Ordi
China imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australia in excess of 80% barley for five years from May. The exporter supplies about 40% of China’s overseas grain purchases.
Australia said on Wednesday it will challenge China to the WTO over barley rights. The dispute may last two to three years to settle, but the independent arbitrator should acknowledge that the tariffs “are not based on facts and evidence,” according to Commerce Minister Simon Birmingham.
China described Australia’s decision as unfortunate and added that it would handle the matter in accordance with WTO dispute settlement procedures.
You
Another prominent goal of Beijing’s actions has been You Australian. China will charge anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on the beverage, which could raise the total amount to more than 218%. Rates are expected to last between four and nine months.
Pouring wine?
Australia is China’s largest wine supplier
Source: General Customs Administration of China
The Minister of Commerce, Birmingham, hinted at the possibility of bringing China to the WTO on wine tariffs, noting that Beijing’s claims had similar criteria to those made on barley. The Chinese embassy in Canberra said concerns about China’s accession to the free trade agreement are “totally unfounded ”and that the nation has fulfilled its obligations.
Veal
Several reasons have been given for the sidewalks of China to the Australian meat of the major meat companies. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the restrictions were applicable protect the health and safety of Chinese consumers amid reports of Covid-19 infections in global meat factories, and also criticized Australia’s research to investigate the origins of the coronavirus. However, he denied that the two issues were related.
Another reason given by China to suspend purchases from a producer is the discovery of drugs banned in bovine products. The sidewalks have been extended to other Australian companies, although China has offered there is no reason for his last stop. Australia accounts for up to 18% of beef imports from China.
Lobster
The Australian lobster has been found with the customs office delays due to increased inspections on imports of trace elements of minerals and metals, and most exporters have decided to suspend shipments to China until there is more clarity on the process, according to a group industrial.
Customs delays are particularly detrimental, as live lobsters usually fly on ice and must be consumed within 72 hours of leaving Australia if they do not enter tanks in China. The Chinese market accounted for more than 90% of Australian lobster exports worth A $ 752 million ($ 573 million) in 2018-19.
Wood
China banned the import of logs from the states of Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia after finding pests during controls. Customs clearance on barley imports from Emerald Grain Australia was also banned, after China said weeds were found in recent arrivals.
China’s customs demanded tougher quarantine controls on all of Australia’s timber and barley, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang said China has repeatedly found biological hazards in the products. Australian timber and representing a “serious danger ”for domestic industry. China buys about a quarter of its timber from Australia abroad.
Others
There are other Australian commodities in China as tensions rise. China has told traders stop buying products such as copper ore and concentrate, sugar and cotton, according to people who know the situation. Australian government forecast Abares has also marked wheat as a possible target.
So far, iron ore and gas, two of Australia’s biggest export winners, have been saved, as any brake on imports could unduly damage China’s own economy.
– With the assistance of Jasmine Ng, Shuping Niu, Sybilla Gross and Dan Murtaugh