China suspends Australian beef imports from four abattoirs
(VOVWORLD) - China has imposed an import ban on four Australian abattoirs as diplomatic tensions between the two countries mount.
 Workers look on as beef cattle imported from Australia leave a cargo ship at a port in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, April 15, 2018. (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer) |
The blacklisting of the red meat abattoirs comes just days after China flagged plans to introduce an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, bringing the trade to its knees.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded an independent investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak.
Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham told a news conference in Canberra that the government hopes in coming days to establish “that Australian farmers and barley producers do not receive undue subsidies and do not dump their product on foreign markets.”
He said if the case were to go against them, Australian would absolutely reserve its right to pursue all other avenues, including through the WTO.