At the end of last month, Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates Ltd complained that it encountered delays in getting some export products into China.
The government of China responded that it was handling customs processes as normal for imports of Australian wine.
Treasury Wine, the world’s biggest listed winemaker, revealed the issue in Mid May as Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo began a visit to China aimed at repairing ties with his country’s largest trading partner. Relations had recently deteriorated.
Speaking at a daily news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang referred specific questions on Treasury Wine to the Customs Administration.
But he added: “According to what we know of the situation, it can be said that the Chinese customs and relevant import inspection and quarantine departments are handling the relevant entry applications according to normal procedures”.