China-Australia relations: importers remain under pressure to cut orders of Australian products as ban looms
- Verbal notification comes as Chinese importers brace for what state media is calling an ‘import suspension’ of various Australian goods
- Word from custom clearance agencies has been filtering down to importers across China, telling them that shipments could be severely delayed after Friday
Importers in China are continuing to receive phone calls from custom clearance agents to cut orders of Australian products due to a high risk they could suffer losses, as the state-run media confirmed an “import suspension”.
Agents, who are responsible for clearing goods into China after arrival at ports and airports, said major ports in Shanghai and Qingdao were preparing to step up inspections of Australian products.
On Thursday, many Australian exporters and Chinese importers were holding their breath in anticipation of the new restrictions on imports of a list of Australian products, namely barley, sugar, red wine, logs, coal, lobster, copper ore and concentrate, that are set to take come into force on Friday.
While the Chinese government has not confirmed the restrictions with an official statement, the state-run Global Times acknowledged the “import suspension” in an article on Wednesday.
When asked whether it had instructed importers to stop buying Australian products, the Chinese government said on Tuesday that “relevant companies reducing imports of relevant products from Australia are acting on their own initiative”.
Sources on Thursday told the South China Morning Post that a wholesale market in Shanghai was looking to step up inspections of all seafood and fruits imports from Australia, but on Friday it emerged this was no longer taking place.