Beijing’s Alleged Ban on Australian Coal Signals ‘Discriminatory Trade Practices’: Trade Minister

Beijing’s Alleged Ban on Australian Coal Signals ‘Discriminatory Trade Practices’: Trade Minister
Senator Simon Birmingham at Parliament House on November 28, 2017 in Canberra, Australia. Michael Masters/Getty Images
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Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham says reports that China will curb imports of Australian coal are “discriminatory” and in violation of their trade agreements.

According to Chinese state-owned media, Global Times, Australian coal imports have been added to the growing list of banned products, with Beijing shifting focus to countries signed to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).