(Bloomberg) -- China has now lifted all restrictions on exports from Australian meat works, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, marking a new milestone in warming relations between the two governments.
Beijing has ended its ban on the final two Australian meat processors that had been restricted from selling to China, Albanese said in a statement on Tuesday, joining eight other meat works that had already had restrictions relaxed in stages since December 2023. The prime minister said the announcement paved the way for a full resumption of beef exports to China.
China’s government has now either lifted or pledged to remove all trade curbs that were imposed on Australian exports at the height of diplomatic tensions between the two nations in 2020 and 2021.
Beijing has already ended restrictions on Australian barley, wine, timber and coal, among others, as well as announcing that it intended to end a ban on the import of rock lobsters “in time for Chinese New Year.”
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm Albanese’s announcement, with spokesman Lin Jian saying that China was “willing to work with Australia through dialog and consultation.”
John Dee’s meat processor in Warwick and the Australian Country Choice processor in Brisbane — the two processors in question — weren’t immediately available for comment.
It comes as Australia boosts its rate of cattle slaughter to meet rising global demand for beef, which is expected to outpace supply and increase export prices.
Lobster Exports
Speaking in Singapore on Tuesday, Australia Trade Minister Don Farrell credited his counterpart Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao for the lifting of the bans, and said he had been assured the plan to end restrictions on lobster exports was on track.
“This is really good news, whether you’re a grain farmer in Western Australia, a wine maker in South Australia or a beef producer in Queensland,” Farrell told reporters at a press conference. “It’s stabilized our relationship with our largest trading partner.”
Farrell said he expected the lifting of the final restrictions on lobsters “in the coming weeks,” which would mark the end of the punitive trade measures imposed on Australia.
The trade curbs were imposed in stages following the announcement by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia would support an international inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, infuriating the government in Beijing.
However, since the election of the center-left Labor government in May 2022, ties between Australia and China have rapidly improved, including the restarting of high-level diplomatic talks and state visits. Premier Li Qiang traveled to Australia in June to meet with Albanese.
--With assistance from Josh Xiao and Colum Murphy.
(Updates with China and Australia reaction from fifth paragraph)
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