Australia''s agriculture, fisheries and forestry minister Joe Ludwig has confirmed there is no ban on imports of Australian rock lobster into China.
Senator Ludwig said according to Chinese quarantine and customs officials, there was no ban on the imports, although the federal government was continuing to work with officers at the Australian Embassy in Beijing to investigate the reports.
The government will continue to push for quick clearance of Australian product arriving in China, he said. It will also work with the Australian rock lobster industry to determine the exact nature of the problems being experienced.
Federal trade minister Craig Emerson said Australia was committed to an open and transparent trading relationship and would continue to work closely with the rock lobster industry and trading partners to secure trade into the future.
Former Northern Zone Rock Lobster Association president and now seafood exporter Steve Moriarty said China had not banned rock lobster, instead the country was ensuring its duties were in order as part of routine inspections, and trade would return to normal soon.
Moriarty was responding to comments made by trade specialist Peter Wentzki who said the ban on rock lobster imports was because the industry had been illegally trading there for years.
However, Moriarty said it was up to buyers to pay tariffs, and not Australia or the industry, with produce exported to a Hong Kong food port.
[Source: Port Lincoln Times]
