Calls are growing for further Chinese trade sanctions to be dropped following the first shipment of Australian coal to the country for more than two years.
Some 72,000 tonnes of coal arrived in Zhanjiang port on Wednesday, a first since sanctions on Australian exports were imposed.
China instituted the ban after the former federal government called for an investigation into the origin of COVID-19.
Beijing’s mouthpiece The Global Times reports Chinese steel firm Baosteel has resumed purchasing Australian coal.
Following the arrival of the first shipment, there are hopes other Australian goods such as barley, lobster and wine will have sanctions on those items dropped as well.
Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham said news of the coal shipment arrival was welcome but more work was to be done.
“We will of course need to see that (the coal) is unloaded and passes through customs processes in a normal way that will be very welcomed if it is the case,” he told ABC Radio on Thursday.
“There is much still to be done in terms of removing the unfair, unjustified trade sanctions against the Australian wine industry, the Australian barley industry and many other sectors who face less transparent barriers to trade with China as a result of their actions.”
The coal arrival follows talks earlier this week between Trade Minister Don Farrell and Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao.
Beijing has also raised concerns about Australia strengthening security checks for Chinese investment after the two trade ministers met and is pushing for a more open businesses environment.
Senator Farrell has accepted an invitation to travel to Beijing.
Senator Birmingham has called for regular trade to resume between Australia and China.
“If China is genuine about stabilisation in relations, about ending the wolf warrior diplomacy and about providing that they are not in the business of attempting economic coercion, then they should remove these unfair trade sanctions,” he said.
By Andrew Brown in Canberra
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