Chinese step up trade sanctions

AUSTRALIAN exporters fear more sanctions could be on the way after the Chinese government suspended trade with a grain exporter and banned timber from Queensland.

The latest trade strikes come amid growing tensions between Beijing and Canberra, as lobster producers halted all shipments after $ 2m of live rock lobsters were left to spoil on the tarmac in Shanghai.

Chinese custom authorities alleged the lobsters may have been contaminated.

The South China Morning Post on Tuesday reported Chinese importers expected bans to this week be announced by the government on Australian copper products and sugar.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government was aware of the latest sanctions and stood by Australia’s export processes.

“Australia has strong regulatory controls that underpin the integrity and biosecurity of all products exported,” Mr Littleproud said.

Earlier this year, China launched trade actions against Australian beef and wine.

Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, defended his government’s latest measures.

“This practice is in line with pertinent laws and regulations, and protects the safety of Chinese consumers buying imported food,” he said.

He said he hoped Australia would take “effective measures” to ensure timber imports met quarantine requirements after “many cases of live pests”.

“These live pests, if allowed into China, will gravely endanger China’s forestry production and ecological security,” Mr Wang said.

Australian grain exporter Emerald Grain was at the weekend suspended from sending barley to China after officials claimed to have found weed seeds in a shipment.