Coronavirus: China suspends meat imports from four Australian abattoirs amid COVID-19 trade tensions
May 12, 2020 17:08:46 GMT 10
Post by EZWarren on May 12, 2020 17:08:46 GMT 10
China has suspended imports from four Australian abattoirs in an escalation of trade tensions between the two nations.
The suspension comes days after China announced plans to slap an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley.
China is Australia's number one market for beef by volume, accounting for about 30 per cent of exports.
The Australian Meat Industry Council has put the suspension down to labelling issues.
"While not desirable, we have dealt with issues of this nature before and are working closely with the commonwealth," chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said.
"This is a trade and market access issue that is being led by the commonwealth."
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham found out about the import bans late yesterday.
"It's disappointing that no notification was given prior to that suspension taking effect today," Mr Birmingham told reporters in Canberra today.
"Nonetheless, government will work with those processes, as comprehensively as we can, to ensure that not only have they rectified any issues that may have occurred in the past, but they can comply with all requirements, and ideally get their permits reinstated as quickly as possible."
He said this isn't the first time meat processors faced similar action, with six processors impacted a number of years ago.
"Thousands of jobs relate to these meat processing facilities. Many more farmers rely upon them in terms of selling cattle into those facilities, and it is a very important market for Australia," he said.
"But I would emphasise, there are many other meat processing facilities that will continue under their approved permits to send product to China as they do, indeed, around the rest of the world.
"But we will work as hard as we can with this industry, just as we are with the barley industry, to get the right outcome for them, which is the instatement of the permits."
Mr Birmingham said it was his expectation the technical issues have all been addressed.
"What we'll do is make sure that the procedures and processes they've put in place to ensure ongoing compliance are well known to Chinese authorities as well," he said.
Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have rapidly deteriorated after Prime Minister Scott Morrison began pushing for a global inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.
"I think right around the world, people would expect that when hundreds of thousands of people have died, millions of people have lost their jobs, and billions of people have had their lives disrupted, of course, there should be a thorough investigation and inquiry into it," Mr Birmingham said.
"But it's in no way related … to the export arrangements for Australian beef or for Australian barley or for anything else."
Earlier this month, Beijing's ambassador warned Chinese people would reconsider buying Australian beef if Mr Morrison continued calling for the investigation.
The suspension comes days after China announced plans to slap an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley.
China is Australia's number one market for beef by volume, accounting for about 30 per cent of exports.
The Australian Meat Industry Council has put the suspension down to labelling issues.
"While not desirable, we have dealt with issues of this nature before and are working closely with the commonwealth," chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said.
"This is a trade and market access issue that is being led by the commonwealth."
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham found out about the import bans late yesterday.
"It's disappointing that no notification was given prior to that suspension taking effect today," Mr Birmingham told reporters in Canberra today.
"Nonetheless, government will work with those processes, as comprehensively as we can, to ensure that not only have they rectified any issues that may have occurred in the past, but they can comply with all requirements, and ideally get their permits reinstated as quickly as possible."
He said this isn't the first time meat processors faced similar action, with six processors impacted a number of years ago.
"Thousands of jobs relate to these meat processing facilities. Many more farmers rely upon them in terms of selling cattle into those facilities, and it is a very important market for Australia," he said.
"But I would emphasise, there are many other meat processing facilities that will continue under their approved permits to send product to China as they do, indeed, around the rest of the world.
"But we will work as hard as we can with this industry, just as we are with the barley industry, to get the right outcome for them, which is the instatement of the permits."
Mr Birmingham said it was his expectation the technical issues have all been addressed.
"What we'll do is make sure that the procedures and processes they've put in place to ensure ongoing compliance are well known to Chinese authorities as well," he said.
Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have rapidly deteriorated after Prime Minister Scott Morrison began pushing for a global inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.
"I think right around the world, people would expect that when hundreds of thousands of people have died, millions of people have lost their jobs, and billions of people have had their lives disrupted, of course, there should be a thorough investigation and inquiry into it," Mr Birmingham said.
"But it's in no way related … to the export arrangements for Australian beef or for Australian barley or for anything else."
Earlier this month, Beijing's ambassador warned Chinese people would reconsider buying Australian beef if Mr Morrison continued calling for the investigation.
