BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s commerce ministry on Thursday said it has resumed regular quarantine inspections for lobsters imported from Australia, effectively restoring shipments that had been disrupted since late 2020 due to a diplomatic dispute.
China hopes to work with Australia to properly manage bilateral economic and trade relations and to expand and deepen cooperation in both traditional and emerging sectors, ministry spokesperson He Yongqian told a regular news conference.
In late 2020, China imposed unofficial bans and tariffs on Australian goods valued at A$20 billion, including coal, wine, and rock lobster, after Canberra called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
The resumption of Australian lobster imports marks the resolution of all outstanding trade barriers imposed by China on Australian exports after a thawing of bilateral ties.
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Alexandra Hudson)
