1 month ago
7 Australian lobsters have been stranded on the tarmac at a Chinese airport prompting fears seafood could become the next victim of escalating trade tensions.
The lobsters are facing Chinese customs clearance issues, The Sydney Morning Herald reports, meaning exporters now face a race against time to get them into restaurants and shops before they are spoiled.
Any delay beyond 48 hours and the seafood delicacy is unlikely to survive.
In a statement provided to NCA NewsWire, Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said he was aware of reports of customs clearance issues related to premium shellfish imports into China and was working closely with the industry.
“All importers should be subjected to equivalent standards and there should be no discriminatory screening practices,” he said.
“So far any industry concerns imply a breach of WTO or CHAFTA commitments. Chinese authorities should rule out the use of any such discriminatory actions.”
If the fears of lobster exporters are realised, they would become the latest victim of an escalating trade dispute between Australia and its biggest trading partner, China.
Tariffs on barley, bans on some beef, restrictions on coal and an investigation into wine have been just a few of the impacts on Australian produce during the escalating dispute.
The tensions between the two nations has been prompted by Australia’s tougher stance on China’s South China Sea incursions and its calls for an investigation into the source and China’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing has hit back with hip pocket diplomacy.
Southern Rocklobster Limited executive officer Tom Cosentino told The Sydney Morning Herald Australian lobster shipments had experienced customs clearance delays due to an increased level of import inspections in China.
The newspaper reported that in 2018-19 more than 94 per cent of Australia’s $752 million rock lobster exports went to China.
English (United States)