ExclusiveChina import data reveals tainted Australian oats, almonds blocked last year as trade war fears grow
- Chinese customs data shows a range of Australian exports were subject to technical blocks last year for problems ranging from pest infestations to mildew
- China has already moved to slap export bans and tariffs on Australian beef and barley producers, raising fears that more duties are on the way
Exports of Australian oats and oatmeal, milk powder and almonds ran into import compliance trouble at Chinese ports last year alongside beef shipments, customs data shows, as concern grows that Beijing may expand restrictions on Australian goods.
Chinese commerce minister Zhong Shan on Monday reiterated that Beijing’s investigation into the dumping of Australian barley was thorough and complied with the terms of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
The measures have ratcheted up fears in Australia that more tariffs are on the way, and Chinese customs data from 2019, obtained by the South China Morning Post, shows there have been more Australian products with a history of import violations.
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China’s Customs Administration reported pest infestations in large batches of oat and oatmeal exports by CBH Group, Australia’s largest grain exporter, last year.
Two lots of oatmeal exports in May weighing more than 500,000kg each, a 540,000kg shipment of oats in June, and a 570,000kg delivery of oats in September were all stopped from entering the country when they arrived at the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Shantou.
In addition, one contaminated shipment of oatmeal, weighing nearly 3,000kg, from Australian cereal specialist Sanitarium was blocked from delivery in Nanjing in January 2019.