China removes import suspensions on five Australia beef plants

China has been relaxing controls on Australia exports imposed amid the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020.

China has removed import suspensions on a handful of Australian beef processing plants in the latest relaxation of controls on the country’s exports.

Australia’s government said five unidentified beef processing facilities have had their suspensions removed, taking the total to eight, although controls remain on two other processing plants.

“We continue to press China to remove the remaining trade impediments, including for Australia’s rock lobster industry,” Murray Watt, Australia’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, said in a joint statement with trade and tourism counterpart Don Farrell.

“The Australian government’s approach is to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest.”

China imposed import restrictions on a host of Australian exports in 2020 in retaliation to the Prime Minister at the time, Scott Morrison, calling for an international inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 outbreak.