Canberra | Reuters — Australia’s trade ministry said on Tuesday that China had lifted restrictions on imports of meat from three Australian abattoirs, in the latest sign of improving relations between the two countries.
China blocked imports of Australian commodities including coal, timber and barley after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 in 2020.
Most of these restrictions have been removed since a change of government in Canberra last year.
The trade ministry said China’s Customs agency had announced the lifting of restrictions for three of Australia’s largest meat exporters, without naming them.
Around seven other Australian abattoirs remain on the restricted list.
The ministry said the three producers could ship goods to China from Dec. 11 “pending final administrative processes required by each side.”
“This is another positive step towards the stabilization of our relationship with China,” Trade Minister Don Farrell said, adding that the government would “keep pressing for the remaining trade impediments to be removed as soon as possible.”
–Reporting for Reuters by Peter Hobson.
