China lifts trade ban on Australian beef, removing all sanctions on Aussie goods

China has removed its last remaining ban on two beef exporters, ending a raft of restrictions and sanctions on Australian products which totalled about $20bn.

China has lifted all bans on Australian beef, removing the last of its unofficial trade sanctions on a range of Australian products including wine, barley, cotton and rock lobsters.

Export approvals were reinstated for the remaining two Queensland-based abattoirs on Tuesday, after they were suspended in 2020 and 2021.

Previously Beijing had slapped suspensions on a total of 10 beef processing plants resulting in a $20.6bn reduction in exports.

Sanctions were removed on five abattoirs in May this year and three plants in December 2023.

Anthony Albanese said Tuesday’s development would result in red meat exports breaking records in the 2024-25 financial year, while boosting the overall value of agriculture, fisheries and forestry to $94.3bn – the second highest on record.

“This is great news for Australian exporters, producers and farmers,” he said.

“Since we were elected we’ve worked tirelessly to resume trade and that’s exactly what we are seeing.”

Beijing has removed trade bans on the remaining two Australian abattoirs. Picture: NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

The announcement follows a meeting between Mr Albanese and Chinese president Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil two weeks ago.

Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the removal of export bans was a win for producers and growers Australia-wide.

Mr Farrell is currently in Singapore attending the ninth Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong and is expected to comment on the lifting of the bans later on Tuesday evening.

“We are close to the point where China’s trade impediments which impacted $20 billion worth of Australian exports have all been removed,” he said.

“The removal of trade impediments has not only saved, but also created thousands of new jobs in Australia.”

Cattle Australia chief executive Chris Parker welcomed the news, applauding the advocacy of the Albanese government.

“As a net exporter of products, our industry relies on ensuring productive technical discussions can take place, in an effort to strengthen ties with current trading partners and foster relationships with new customers,” Dr Parker said.

“We look forward to ongoing conversations with China and other nations, as we continue to share Australia’s world-leading beef with consumers across the globe.”

In October, Anthony Albanese minted an agreement to end export bans on Australian rock lobsters, a $80m industry, with sales to resume by the end of the year.

The deal was minted during a meeting of the Prime Minister with Chinese premier Li Qiang at the ASEAN summit, and followed the removal of raised tariffs on wine and barley, and additional bans on coal and cotton.

Beijing originally slapped the unofficial trade impediments on Australia after the Morrison government called for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, before they were removed following thawing tensions between the two governments.