<Australia Break News = Reporter Seo Ji-won>
China seems to be expanding its trade offensive to Australia. It is known that the company delivered a "blacklist" to domestic product dealers not to import Australian products verbally. China has imposed restrictions on imports of various Australian products since Australia claimed an international investigation into the new coronavirus infection.
Citing industry sources, Bloomberg reported on the 3rd (local time) that China is not planning to import many Australian raw materials and food products.
According to Bloomberg News, the Chinese authorities verbally delivered the "Australian Blacklist" to their product dealers. Coal, barley, copper, sugar, wood, wine and lobsters were on the list.
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) also quoted industry sources as saying that Chinese importers have been informed not to import Australian wheat.
The importers, who have already been ordered not to import Australian wheat, reportedly received it verbally, not through official documents. Experts believe that the Chinese authorities may have imposed a "factual import ban" through verbal instructions because writing official documents would violate World Trade Organization regulations.
China is Australia's largest trading partner. Since Australia called for an international investigation into the Corona 19 origin in April, Australia has been under various trade restrictions. The move is interpreted as a de facto trade retaliation. Bloomberg analyzed that "China is waging a unilateral trade war against Australia for political reasons."
In May, China banned imports of beef from four Australian slaughterhouses. High tariffs were imposed on Australian barley. Chinese authorities have also advised their citizens to refrain from studying in Australia and touring.
Last month, it was reported that power plants and steel mills in China were verbally notified to stop importing coal for power generation and steel from Australia.
Since late last month, Chinese authorities have already paid for imports and blocked customs clearance for Australian goods that arrived at Chinese ports.
Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reported on the 2nd that 20 tons of Australian lobster (lobster) have not passed customs quarantine since the 30th of last month at Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China. The explanation is that the lobster is on the verge of pesa as China delayed the process by adding new customs inspection items.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin claimed that China's maritime authorities are quarantine of imported seafood in accordance with relevant laws for the safety of consumers.
On the same day, Wang also said, "We imposed an import ban on Australian wood, citing the discovery of pests in Australian wood."
China has imposed such restrictions mainly on sectors with a high proportion of imports from Australia. If China clamps down on the industrial sector, Australia will be hit hard.
Lobsters and timber are particularly dependent on Australia's exports to China. China bought 94 percent of Australia's 2018/2019 lobster exports. In the one-year period from June last year to June, 84 percent of Australian timber exports went to China.
The move is also expected to hurt the Australian wine industry. China is the largest buyer of Australian luxury wines.
Bloomberg reported that China has excluded iron ore and natural gas from its "blacklist" as it has recently been increasing consumption. This is because Australia is a producer of high-quality iron ore, making it difficult to find a replacement for its supply chain. Bloomberg explained, "If China places import restrictions on Australian iron ore, it will hurt its economy."
Richard McGregor, a senior researcher at the Lowe Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, said, "China has warned earlier that it can replace its supply chain for many of Australia's products, and is now taking full action," and added, "China seems determined to launch a trade offensive against Australia and set an example for other countries."
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