China Suspends Certain Australian Timber Imports
China suspended timber imports from the Australian state of Victoria after finding “pests” in the products, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Nov. 12. The move, which took effect Nov. 11, followed an Oct. 31 decision to ban timber imports from Australia’s Queensland state, also due to pests, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson called the decisions “normal bio-security precautions, which are science-based and reasonable and in line with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and international practices.”
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The ban came about a week after Chinese importers said Chinese officials had “informally” told them Australian products would face “increased customs inspections” this month,” Reuters reported Nov. 11. China said the moves are not meant to be a retaliatory measure against Australia despite worsening ties between the two countries, including recent Australian criticism of Huawei. “At the same time, I would like to stress once again that a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples,” the ministry spokesperson said, according to a transcript of a press conference during which he spoke.