China-Australia relations: looming ban on Australian goods clouds Shanghai import expo
- Traders at the China International Import Expo say concerns are mounting among Chinese importers of Australian wine and other farm products, as bilateral relations worsen
- Verbal instructions by Chinese authorities, to effectively impose a trade ban on a variety of Australian goods, are raising fresh concerns about Beijing’s trade regime transparency and true intentions
China’s informal ban on at least seven Australian products, set to take effect on Friday, is casting a pall over an import expo in Shanghai where the central government is trying to project an image of promoting free trade and goodwill.
While Beijing has yet to formally confirm that imports of Australian wine, copper, barley, coal, sugar, timber and lobster will be subject to increased restrictions from Friday, the state-run Global Times acknowledged the “import suspension” in an article on Wednesday.
At least three Australian wine importers at the venue said they expected their business to be badly hit after China – the top export market for Australian wine – started an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine in August. The South China Morning Post reported this week that China could impose an anti-dumping duty of more than 200 per cent on Australian wine as soon as next week.
Some wine importers said that they have had to halt new orders and will rely on existing inventories already in Chinese warehouses.