CHINA-AUSTRALIA: CHINA SUSPENDS BEEF IMPORTS FROM FOUR AUSTRALIAN ABATTOIRS
Caixin reported (may 12) that China on may 12, suspended meat imports from four Australian abattoirs accounting for 35 per cent of China''s beef imports from Australia on May 12, citing the need to protect the health and safety of Chinese consumers, as relations between the two nations hit a low point. At the regular press briefing, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the import freeze was linked to recent frictions between Australia and China related to the global coronavirus pandemic. He said the companies in question violated inspection and quarantine requirements. Australia sold 29% of its total beef exports, or 300 kilotons, to China last year making China its biggest beef export market by volume.
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