China lifts three abattoirs from trade blacklist as tensions thaw

In a further sign of a thawing in diplomatic tensions between Australia and China, Beijing has lifted sanctions on three Australian abattoirs.

Diplomatic tensions between Australia and China have continued to thaw after Beijing lifted trade restrictions on three Australian abattoirs.

Two Victorian facilities, Australian Lamb Company in Colac and JBS in Melbourne, and one abattoir in South Australia, Teys of Naracoorte, will once again be able to export their products to China.

The suspensions were implemented by Chinese authorities between 2020 and early 2022 due to a string of Covid-19 cases among workers onsite.

The development, announced by China’s customs agency overnight, means meat produced at the three red-meat facilities can be sold in China, pending final administrative processes.

Three local meat processing facilities have been approved by Chinese authorities to resume exporting to China. Picture: supplied.

However, a number of meat processing facilities are still subject to trade blockades, which Chinese authorities have alleged are due to contaminated or mislabelled products.

Speaking on Tuesday, Trade Minister Don Farrell, who has made several trips to China in an attempt to resolve trade disputes and ease bilateral hostilities, lauded the announcement.

“This is another positive step towards the stabilisation of our relationship with China,” Mr Farrell said.

“The Albanese government will keep pressing for the remaining trade impediments to be removed as soon as possible.”

The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) welcomed the development that some export approvals would be reinstated.

The Albanese government’s efforts to ease trade tensions have been led by Trade Minister Don Farrell (left). Picture: PMO/X

“We are glad to see movement and action on some of the outstanding issues that will allow the affected plants re-enter the market,” AMIC chief Patrick Hutchinson said.

Mr Hutchinson added that he hoped the trade breakthrough would represent the first step in addressing the access issues that remained.

“We hope this represents a restabilisation of the trade in meat to China which will also allow for a process and pathway for new access to the market,” he said.

In October, Beijing agreed to review the trade restrictions imposed on Australian wine. An outcome is still pending. Separately, China has lifted sanctions on several other goods including barley.

Live lobsters are the only product where progress is yet to be made on removing Chinese trade sanctions.