Trade and agriculture ministers in Australia said on Tuesday (Dec 12) that China had lifted restrictions on imports of meat from three large abattoirs in Australia, in the latest sign of improving relations between the two countries.
China had blocked imports of Australian commodities including coal, timber and barley after Australia requested an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 in 2020.
China is the biggest importer of Australian lamb and mutton and the fourth-biggest importer of its beef.
While trade in other commodities collapsed due to trade barriers, many Australian abattoirs could still ship to China and export volumes were little changed in recent years.