English On December 15, Australian media simultaneously reported that China had issued a ban on coal imports from Australia.
According to Australian media, on the evening of December 14, China officially cut coal imports from Australia and increased the volume of coal imported from suppliers Mongolia, Indonesia and Russia.
The Australian online newspaper quoted a source from China's Global Times as saying that during a meeting with 10 major thermal power companies over the weekend, China's National Development and Reform Commission allowed the this company imports unlimited coal from countries, except Australia.
Reacting to this information, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that so far, these are just information from the Chinese press without official confirmation. If that is the case, China has violated the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the free trade agreement between the two countries.
Prime Minister Morrison said Australia has always wanted to resume dialogue with China to resolve differences but does not accept any conditions attached: "We look forward to resuming direct ministerial-level dialogue. However, I also want to make it clear that these dialogues are only taking place without any conditions. It cannot cause Australia to eliminate press freedom. Nor can it. causing Australia to drop the rules on who can invest in Australia."
Information from local media added that since October, Chinese importers have been told "orally" to stop buying thermal coal from Australia. Next, the Chinese side said that coal imported from Australia did not meet environmental regulations. Up to this point, more than 80 Australian coal ships with a total value of more than $ 1.1 billion are parked off the coast of China waiting for customs clearance.
Coal is Australia's third largest export value to the Chinese market and in 2019 the country earned $ 14 billion when meeting 60% of the coal demand of the world's second largest economy. However, China is not the country that imports the most coal from Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Japan is the largest market for Australian coal with imports twice the volume ordered from the Chinese market.
While China has continuously imposed trade barriers to limit the import of goods from Australia, Australia has not taken any action to retaliate against this action of China. In the face of the fact that China's trade barriers can cost Australia up to 20 billion AUD in Australian public opinion, there have been opinions that Australia can raise the selling price or limit the export of iron ore, export commodities. Australia's main exports to China as retaliatory measures. However, yesterday (December 14) Australian Resources Minister Keith Pitt rejected this view and affirmed that Australia works under a rules-based trading system and it will live up to its commitments. .
According to Viet Nga - Huu Tien - VOV