China-Australia cattle trade continues despite tensions

Beijing has unleashed a raft of actions against Australian exports following Canberra’s push for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus

Last week both cotton and coal were drawn into the trade dispute which has already involved beef, wine and barley

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Australia was China’s top supplier of live cattle in the first seven months of the year until it was overtaken by New Zealand, official customs data showed. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:07am, 20 Oct 2020Updated: 10:11pm, 20 Oct 2020

China’s allowed 3,600 cattle to enter from Australia last week, a sign that heightened tensions between the two countries have not hindered all areas of trade.

Beijing has unleashed a raft of actions against Australian exports following Canberra’s push for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.

Australia’s cotton industry last week feared it may become the latest casualty of worsening ties after barley was hit by tariffs and wine was subjected to anti-subsidy and anti-dumping probes.

Last week, China also delayed entry of Australian thermal and coking coal shipments, and verbally discouraged power stations and steel mills from buying more Australian coal, deferring some forward orders.

China’s customs said on its official weibo account on Monday that shipment of high-quality Australian cattle for breeding stock had been cleared for entry at Qinzhou port in the southern region of Guangxi last week.

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