China-Australia relations: ‘unconscionable’ trade sanctions on wine warrant WTO intervention, Scott Morrison says

10 June 2021 – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reiterates intentions to stand up for barley and wine producers But any road through the World Trade Organization (WTO) could be riddled with difficulties Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government will ask the World Trade Organization (WTO) to resolve its wine-tariff trade dispute with…

China-Australia relations: on first anniversary of trade conflict, hay-import licences bedevil Australian exporters

19 April 2021 – China’s import permits for 25 Australian hay exporters have not been renewed two months after their expiration Hay-licence problems are just the latest in a series of trade difficulties resulting from the war of words that erupted one year ago between Canberra and Beijing over the coronavirus origin One year ago,…

Secret meeting with official turns China meat contract from ‘no’ to ‘go’

31 March 2021 – A large Australian meat company defied government advice and met secretly with a top Chinese customs official in an ultimately successful attempt to overturn a multi-million-dollar export licence ban. The revelation of the unusual steps taken in 2019 by lamb producer Southern Meats to end a 13-month suspension of its export…

Focus on new wine markets as China extends tariffs on wine imports

29 March 2021 – Australia’s wine and grape businesses are focusing on driving growth in their developing markets after China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) said it will impose anti-dumping measures on some Australian wine imports for five years. According to a statement released on Friday importers bringing in wines related to the anti-dumping activities ruled…

Fears China has cut off imports of Australian wine amid worsening trade war

16 November 2020 – There are signs that Australia’s billion-dollar wine trade with China has effectively ground to a halt, as winemakers continue to grapple with disruptions. Key points: Winemakers say they don’t know of any Australian wine that has cleared China’s customs in the past two weeks Up to 60 per cent of wine…

ABF signs MOU with Singapore

On 20 March 2020, Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Michael Outram countersigned a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Facilitation with the Singapore Government. Singapore’s Ho Chee Pong, Director-General Singapore Customs and Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer, the Infocomm Media Development Authority have also signed the Memorandum of Understanding. “This MOU will support Australia’s efforts…

Australian food exporters face regulatory roadblocks in China

By Michael Smith Nov 11 2019 / Financial Review Shanghai | Chinese regulators are delaying the approval of new licences to Australian dairy and beef exporters looking to increase sales to China, in the latest sign that diplomatic tensions are hurting trade with Australia’s biggest trading partner. Numerous sources told The Australian Financial Review that…